BARIG Insists on Political Intervention for Germany’s Air Cargo Scene

Public authorities and politicians must take the lead
That’s the basic message given by the BARIG members in their recent meeting held during the World Cargo Symposium in Berlin.
Michael Hoppe, BARIG’s General Secretary is convinced that if action is not taken then there will be serious consequences for the economy, trade, mobility and jobs in the region of the airports.
He stated that “public authorities, politics and airport operators are encouraged to finally take measures that contribute to successfully counteracting this negative trend.”
BARIG now has around 100 international airline members within Germany.

Air cargo capacity is dropping
Figures released by the German federal statistical office in February show that cargo capacity overall dropped by 0.2 percent during 2015.
This may not seem much, but measured in terms of value of goods imported or exported, it adds up to a high amount of revenue.
The report shows that losses were especially high in imported goods which are said to have decreased by almost 1 percent.

Homemade hurdles hamper growth
BARIG is convinced that there are three major areas which are affected within the German air cargo framework and which have to be tackled in order to remain competitive.

• Firstly, there is the issue of the additional burden placed on the industry through high fees and additional taxes, which according to the BARIG spokesman especially affect airlines and is reflected in their transport pricing. Costs such as high air traffic taxes, air security fees and flight control fees are becoming a burden, which cannot be borne by many operators any longer.
• German bureaucracy is another setback. Administrative processes are long-drawn-out and become increasingly complicated which results in unnecessary time-consuming debates and negotiations compared to those in other European playing fields. This does not help in any way to attract new airline business or keep the present carriers happy.
• Thirdly, the infrastructure comes under BARIG criticism. Major construction projects, which are positive signs for German airport development, are being further delayed by internal political bickering and lack of decisions. BARIG pleads for a more coordinated planning process as regards the infrastructure projects and that airlines be consulted more in their realization.

BARIG Cargo Committee appoints AirBridgeCargo’s Ivan Santoro as Co-Chairman
AirBridgeCargo’s Regional Operations & Ground Handling Director for the EMEA, Ivan Santoro, was recently appointed as Co-Chairman of BARIG’s Cargo Committee.
A wise choice!
Ivan Santoro has a long cargo history and much experience gained in his career with forwarding agents, British Airways and with AirBridgeCargo Airlines, who he joined ten years ago in 2006.
Michael Hoppe, BARIG General Secretary states that “I am glad that Ivan Santoro is now co-responsible for the leadership of this committee. Together with the member airlines we emphasize important topics and thereby greatly contribute to securing Germany’s future as an air cargo location.”

John Mc Donagh