LONDON Heathrow cargo chief Nick Platts made an impassioned plea to stakeholders to make every effort to modernise air cargo so it does not fall behind entangled in delays and red tape.
Speaking at the Farnborough International Airshow, Mr Platts said: 'Computing power doubles every 18 months. Since 2014, the power of processes and IT systems have increased sevenfold.
'Our industry's processing capability has not kept up. There are lost efficiencies throughout our industry and in some respects it may be too late. But emerging Blockchain technology promises much,' he said.
'Unless the industry modernises its working practices, collaborates more effectively and agrees to common ways of working, then the benefits of any new infrastructure will be only partially exploited.
'Airports with a strong effective community perform well, and those with modern facilities do well too, but it is those who combine modern facilities with modern ways do the best,' said Mr Platts.
'One of the biggest challenges we face in our sector is the unlocking the latent capacity and using it to drive efficiencies to limit cargo footprint to deliver better service for our customers.'
He called for the 'whole of the value chain', from airlines to freight forwarders, manufacturers, hauliers, handlers, control authorities and airports to 'come together and play their part'.
'With 95 per cent of the global economy potentially just one flight away from Heathrow, expansion will deliver the crucial new infrastructure for Britain to secure a strong economy the generations to come.'
'You can only achieve this if all stakeholders work together to make the most out of those improvements. One link in the chain should not benefit on another link.'
Mr Platts said that 94 per cent of the cargo through Heathrow last year flew lower deck, well above the market average. Some 70 per cent of the UK's total air cargo volumes are handled at the airport.
'At a time when Brexit threatens to make it harder to move goods through borders we want to be a trusted partner - timely, predictable and easy to do business with.'
Speaking at the Farnborough International Airshow, Mr Platts said: 'Computing power doubles every 18 months. Since 2014, the power of processes and IT systems have increased sevenfold.
'Our industry's processing capability has not kept up. There are lost efficiencies throughout our industry and in some respects it may be too late. But emerging Blockchain technology promises much,' he said.
'Unless the industry modernises its working practices, collaborates more effectively and agrees to common ways of working, then the benefits of any new infrastructure will be only partially exploited.
'Airports with a strong effective community perform well, and those with modern facilities do well too, but it is those who combine modern facilities with modern ways do the best,' said Mr Platts.
'One of the biggest challenges we face in our sector is the unlocking the latent capacity and using it to drive efficiencies to limit cargo footprint to deliver better service for our customers.'
He called for the 'whole of the value chain', from airlines to freight forwarders, manufacturers, hauliers, handlers, control authorities and airports to 'come together and play their part'.
'With 95 per cent of the global economy potentially just one flight away from Heathrow, expansion will deliver the crucial new infrastructure for Britain to secure a strong economy the generations to come.'
'You can only achieve this if all stakeholders work together to make the most out of those improvements. One link in the chain should not benefit on another link.'
Mr Platts said that 94 per cent of the cargo through Heathrow last year flew lower deck, well above the market average. Some 70 per cent of the UK's total air cargo volumes are handled at the airport.
'At a time when Brexit threatens to make it harder to move goods through borders we want to be a trusted partner - timely, predictable and easy to do business with.'