The International Air Cargo Association has called on world leaders meeting at the United Nations to work together to find solutions to the on-going migrant crisis in Europe.
“We must act together now to stop this human tragedy, and TIACA, which has in-depth expertise on global security issues, is prepared to offer its support in any way it can,” said secretary general Doug Brittin.
“The tremendous influx of refugees in Europe has a terrible human cost and is also is also impacting our members and our industry.”
The crisis has resulted in increased wait times at border crossings including the Channel Tunnel between Calais, France and Dover, UK as well as causing empty positioning and reduced volumes for road hauliers, having a significant financial impact on European air cargo logistics.
The Dutch Association for Transport and Logistics reckons that if controls were established across all Schengen borders, the single European zone with borderless travel between 26 states, adding a one-hour delay to crossings, the cost for Dutch carriers alone would be €600m a year.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), roughly 30 per cent of all air cargo comes from or goes to Europe, and therefore these problems have a direct impact on a major part of global air cargo volumes.
“We must act now to find solutions firstly to resolve the humanitarian crisis and then also to ensure the free flow of goods in Europe,” said Brittin.
