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Pandemic Taught Passenger Airlines Lesson About Value of Freight

Wednesday, September 01, 2021 at 07:50 PM ET

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Air cargo has been a savior for communities around the world after the COVID outbreak. Adobe Stock

Key Takeaways:

Historically, airlines and IATA undervalued air cargo, but the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted its critical importance and significant profitability to the industry.
With passenger flights grounded, cargo operations became a vital revenue source, increasing its share of airline revenue from around 13% pre-pandemic to 35% in 2020.
This shift has led to a sustained change in strategy, with airlines now prioritizing cargo in network planning and operations, and a renewed interest in dedicated all-cargo aircraft.

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Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on FreightWaves.com.

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