Staffing shortages among US ground handlers cause delays in apparel shipments

While restrictions due to COVID-19 outbreaks in Southeast Asia have impacted the region’s apparel supply chain, the already limited airfreight capacities remain strained with severe delays attributed to staffing shortages among U.S. ground handlers. [caption id="attachment_88849" align="alignright" width="305"] Photo/Turkish Airlines[/caption] Although COVID-19 restrictions in Vietnam paired with the partial closure of China’s Ningbo port has put additional pressure on airfreight demand, capacity can still be secured through charters, Gary Pippin, senior vice president at U.S.-based Trinity Logistics, told Air Cargo World . “If you want any planning or predictability with product or anything, it has to move on a charter – there's pretty much no other way around that,” he said. However, with sky-high rates, securing a charter is extremely difficult, especially with fluctuating pricing, he added. “Whoever’s willing to pay, that’s where [carriers are] going to put [their] aircraft,” Pippin said. “So if you want any chance to have any charters running between now and through peak season, or through holiday shopping season, you better be prepared to open up that wallet.” Despite the ability to gain capacity through charters, even in the extremely strapped market, Pippin noted that there are bigger challenges. “The struggle we really have, that’s even bigger than capacity, is the ability to get cargo once it lands in the U.S.,” Pippin said. Since every major airport is severely congested , it can take up to three weeks before ground handlers unload cargo due to staffing shortages, he added. “It’s become a real concern with these larger airports and the congestion they have … I’m not sure how it will be resolved, but it’s going to open the opportunity for some of these smaller airports,” Pippin said. “If [small airports] really want to get into the game [and are] near these larger cities, just start bringing in some of these freighters – now is the time to do it because the larger airports are just not moving their freight fast enough.” Trinity Logistics primarily transports fashion-related garments and textiles on U.S. inbound flights, Pippin said. In May, Turkish cargo launched a twice-weekly cargo service between Sri Lanka (CMB) and Columbus-based Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK) on behalf of Trinity. Trinity plans to add a couple more seasonal flights with Turkish Airlines before the end of the year, he said.

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