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A global industry

6th September 2001
Page 37
Page 37, 6th September 2001 — A global industry
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• All haulage work is dictated by market forces, but air cargo hauliers feel the effects of changes in the global economy more quickly than most. Operators in this field will always be in demand: certain goods must be imported and exported by air. This is especially true in the South-East of England. A DoT report on air cargo states: "The air freight market in the UK has developed a concentration around Heathrow, because that it is where the mass of carrying long-haul capacity is offered."

It continues: "A significant proportion of freight is trucked from the regions into London gateway airports, both by forwarders moving freight to their consolidation hubs, and by airlines as a direct substitute for flying out of a regional airport." But regional airports also require HGVs to move goods (see below).

Inevitably, the recession is taking its toll. Atlas Air, an American cargo airline which has one of its main hubs at Heathrow, recently announced losses of $49m (£34.3m), compared with a $19m (£13.3m) profit a year ago. These are huge losses—and they have an effect on the haulier. Atlas Air has parked up six of its Boeing 747s, and less cargo in the air mean less work for the hauliers who move it.

UK air freight: Cargo handled during 2000

Heathrow: 1.38 million tonnes. Gatwick: 319,639 tonnes, Stansted: 168,685 tonnes, Manchester: 122,931 tonnes. Prestwick: 53,000 tonnes. Edinburgh: 18,094 tonnes.

Newcastle: 16,475 tonnes. Glasgow: 8,819 tonnes. Teesside: 3,113 tonnes. Inverness: 869 tonnes. Southampton: 780 tonnes. Leeds/Bradford: 733 tonnes,


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