CONCERNS are mounting in Canada over the availability of air freight capacity amid the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.
Those fears are rising despite new air travel restrictions announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will not apply to trade or businesses.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has already pointed out that the combination of dramatic travel restrictions and the subsequent collapse of the passenger airline sector has 'severely limited cargo capacity,' reported Business in Vancouver.
IATA director general Alexandre de Juniac noted in a press release that 185,000 passenger flights have already been cancelled since the end of January in response to government travel restrictions.
'With this, vital cargo capacity has disappeared when it is most urgently needed in the fight against covid-19,' Mr de Juniac said. 'The world's fleet of freighter aircraft has been mobilised to make up this capacity shortfall. Governments must take urgent measures to ensure that vital supply lines remain open, efficient and effective.'
The IATA is urging governments adopt a number of actions to ensure the continued free flow of air freight.
Those measures include, excluding air cargo operations from any covid-19,-related travel restrictions, exempting air cargo crew from 14-day quarantine requirements and removing overfly charges, slot restrictions and other economic impediments for air cargo operations.
Mr Trudeau said in a press briefing that only four airports in Canada will now receive international flights: Vancouver International Airport, Toronto's Pearson International Airport, Montreal's Trudeau Airport and Calgary International Airport.
WORLD SHIPPING
Those fears are rising despite new air travel restrictions announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will not apply to trade or businesses.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has already pointed out that the combination of dramatic travel restrictions and the subsequent collapse of the passenger airline sector has 'severely limited cargo capacity,' reported Business in Vancouver.
IATA director general Alexandre de Juniac noted in a press release that 185,000 passenger flights have already been cancelled since the end of January in response to government travel restrictions.
'With this, vital cargo capacity has disappeared when it is most urgently needed in the fight against covid-19,' Mr de Juniac said. 'The world's fleet of freighter aircraft has been mobilised to make up this capacity shortfall. Governments must take urgent measures to ensure that vital supply lines remain open, efficient and effective.'
The IATA is urging governments adopt a number of actions to ensure the continued free flow of air freight.
Those measures include, excluding air cargo operations from any covid-19,-related travel restrictions, exempting air cargo crew from 14-day quarantine requirements and removing overfly charges, slot restrictions and other economic impediments for air cargo operations.
Mr Trudeau said in a press briefing that only four airports in Canada will now receive international flights: Vancouver International Airport, Toronto's Pearson International Airport, Montreal's Trudeau Airport and Calgary International Airport.
WORLD SHIPPING