Despite registering a growth of over 90% over the past decade as per World Bank statistics, certain structural deficiencies - slim margins, low yields and low predictability - have held back the air cargo industry from fully capitalizing on the heavy demand for freight movement. High impact, sustainable solutions are essential and the signals are strong for a digital future. The IBS Cargo Forum, which recently concluded in Abu Dhabi, focused on the digital evolution of the air cargo industry landscape, and how the iCargo platform stands to generate tremendous value for the astute customer. &nb...

​ In my previous blog post Game Changers: A reality check on air cargo today - Part I , we explored the anomalous capacity paradox as the core reason behind the decreased yield in the cargo industry. As profitability dips, the most viable solution for the sustenance of the industry begins with increasing productivity of output and must proceed through intense customization of product. Technology, or more specifically digitization, is not a mere enabler here but the very foundation on which the industry must be rebuilt. IATA proposed to achieve this in 2016 through a portfolio of transformation...

" Now, the game will change " - Michael Reisenberg of Lufthansa Cargo , the outgoing Chairman of the IBS Cargo Forum, gave the best possible comment about the future of the cargo industry, subtly invoking the slogan of the home soccer team of the city of Cochin (the venue of the forum conference last month). We are in the business of enabling that change, and the very objective of the forum is to maximize yield in R&D. In today's context, changing the game isn't a nice-to-have for the air cargo industry ; it is a dire necessity on many counts.   An inside look ​ The air cargo industry...

Globally, the air cargo industry clocked a massive 2 quadrillion kg-km as per World Bank statistics for the past year. Meanwhile, IATA confirms that while the year 2016 saw growth doubling by volume, the first half of 2017 has been the strongest ever for the industry so far in this decade. Confidence levels are tremendously high within industry circles, although public perception may have taken a hit from the headlines surrounding Simon, a highly prized rabbit who met his end in the cargo hold of a prominent global airline earlier this year. While the exact cause of the animal's death remains ...

​ Air cargo is an interesting business. The airplane was built, driven by man's inherent dream to fly. Yet on that first flight, there still was some space available in the cockpit after the pilot occupied the seat that could accommodate some letters to the dear ones, Airmail was thus born. Bigger planes followed with more capacity to carry people, their luggage and there still were available spaces for sending something more from origin to the destination and thus air freight was born. Airlines have been carrying air freight since that very first flight that carried letters, and almost every ...