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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, both airlines and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) undervalued air cargo, rarely making it a central topic of discussion.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted cargo's critical role and profitability, becoming a vital revenue stream for airlines (contributing 35% of revenue in 2020) when passenger flights were largely grounded.
This shift has led airlines to prioritize cargo in strategic decisions, influencing route planning and even prompting renewed investment in dedicated freighter operations.
IATA's director general acknowledged this sustained change, confirming that cargo is now a regular and central item on the board's agenda.

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

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