Delta Air Lines is increasing the number of scheduled cargo flights between Asia and three U.S. cities, using its passenger aircraft as substitutes for freighters.
The FAA is making it easier for airlines to survive the current economic crisis by quickly ruling on how to carry cargo in the passenger cabin and relaxing takeoff and landing quotas.
American will penalize shippers who don’t show up or cancel a booking at the last minute, while Delta is adding more capacity for its scheduled cargo routes to Asia.
Cargo has had a window view on some international airlines. Now U.S. airlines are looking to load boxes in the passenger cabin when operating in cargo-only mode. The next step — remove the seats altogether.
The idea of using passenger planes as freighters would have been considered farfetched in February since the main deck can’t be loaded with large pallets. But when there’s a pandemic and a shortage of cargo space, the logistics community gets creative and these planes are being booked at a rapid pace.
The demand for coronavirus medical supplies is so great that passenger aircraft are being repurposed for cargo service, logistics companies are chartering those airplanes and full freighters, and governments are setting up air pipelines with logistics partners.
Demand to move goods during the pandemic crisis is high, but available air cargo space is low. Passenger airlines are finding a robust market.
It’s not exactly “Extreme Makeover,” but passenger airlines are flipping their planes into cargo haulers. Desperation breeds innovation.
Importers and exporters can expect shipping delays and skyrocketing transportation budgets associated with the logistics challenges in China associated with the coronavirus in China. But there are steps companies can take to minimize the damage to customers and their bottom lines.
