AIR carriers are advised to rethink plans for the US market if they involve reefer cargo after it was discovered that one major destination had to be scrapped when it was discovered that its cooler could only handle five pallets, reports London's Air Cargo News.
Speaking privately, the airline's head of cargo was incredulous. 'This is a big gateway in the biggest cargo market in the world, and they have only a small cooler,' he said.
Carriers that require cooler capacity are also out of luck in Philadelphia, said Stan Wraight, president and chief executive of Strategic Aviation Solutions International. The only cooler there, is in American Airlines' cargo facility, he points out.
'For pharma companies, Philadelphia is a preferred gateway for cargo, but they can't use it unless they ship on American,' he says.
Forwarders also feel constrained by limitations on US airports. 'Handling infrastructure is still not where it should be. We won't find better solutions on the ground to differentiate ourselves if they can't retrieve the cargo faster,' said a senior executive of a large logistics provider.
'We are hearing from airports: 'Come and grow with us - but only if you're willing to sit with our limited infrastructure',' remarks Brandon Fried, executive director of the US Airforwarders Association. 'Procrastination to build out infrastructure has resulted in unsurpassed truck congestion and stifling of commercial expansion.'
WORLD SHIPPING
Speaking privately, the airline's head of cargo was incredulous. 'This is a big gateway in the biggest cargo market in the world, and they have only a small cooler,' he said.
Carriers that require cooler capacity are also out of luck in Philadelphia, said Stan Wraight, president and chief executive of Strategic Aviation Solutions International. The only cooler there, is in American Airlines' cargo facility, he points out.
'For pharma companies, Philadelphia is a preferred gateway for cargo, but they can't use it unless they ship on American,' he says.
Forwarders also feel constrained by limitations on US airports. 'Handling infrastructure is still not where it should be. We won't find better solutions on the ground to differentiate ourselves if they can't retrieve the cargo faster,' said a senior executive of a large logistics provider.
'We are hearing from airports: 'Come and grow with us - but only if you're willing to sit with our limited infrastructure',' remarks Brandon Fried, executive director of the US Airforwarders Association. 'Procrastination to build out infrastructure has resulted in unsurpassed truck congestion and stifling of commercial expansion.'
WORLD SHIPPING