Top 3 trends in the evolution of air cargo communities

#1: The rise of end-to-end supply chain approaches

Perhaps the most novel trend in air cargo communities’ evolution is the rise of end-toend systems approaches to air cargo. This means that as airport cargo communities have matured, they are growing their focus beyond the inward management of resources and development of intra-airport communications between stakeholders, to establishing connections with other airports and cargo communities. This outward focus is taking shape in the bilateral and multilateral cooperation on a variety of topics increasingly announced between airports.

On the individual level, airport cargo communities are beginning to reach out to other airports. AMS’ head of cargo, Bart Pouwels, told Air Cargo Airports that the airport is working with Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to integrate their airports’ digital systems in support of efficient trade and customs processing. Pouwels also said the airport is exploring collaboration on similar issues with Indian airports Mumbai (BOM) and Delhi (DEL), and is in discussion with the Chinese government regarding cooperation with Chinese airports, which are he says are “promising.” Multilateral efforts borne from airport cargo communities include the founding of Pharma.Aero in 2016, by Miami (MIA) and Brussels (BRU), joined by a variety of air cargo industry stakeholders, including Singapore Changi (SIN) airport. The trend of cooperation has continued with the development of a “pharma corridor” between HKG and BRU, and most recently, between BRU and Montevideo Airport (MVD), in Uruguay.