Air Cargo and Supply Chain Management

Air cargo is a byproduct of combination carriers and has been the forgotten child in the aviation supply chain until COVID-19 and the subsequent boom in e-commerce. Record high yields and profit margins have not just resulted in air cargo being taken more seriously but have also created an opportunity for the sector to set itself up for the future, including new business models as well as horizontal and vertical supply chain integration. Questions around fleet renewal or reinvestment of the unprecedented cash flows into digitization and transformation of air cargo firms are shaping a future of fascinating career opportunities albeit one where interpersonal skills, data literacy and agility will matter even more than today. Sustainability concerns, physical and online disruptions to global supply chains and the drone revolution all add to the changing environment where only one thing is certain, an increase of uncertainty.