New Delhi: The air cargo industry in India continues to be dominated by paper-driven legacy systems and procedures which are time-consuming and expensive to comply with, according to a new report by global consulting major Deloitte and industry body FICCI.
Among the major impediments is lack of a single-window mechanism for regulatory clearance, mandatory inspection rather than a declaration of cargo, cumbersome information requirements and approval procedures for non-scheduled freight operations by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Simplifying and integrating compliance processes will enable the air freight sector to realize its potential, said the report titled ‘Indian aviation: Bracing to ride out headwinds.’ “Clearly, there is a need to expedite some of the technology initiatives to not just automate all information systems but also to streamline redundant processes and regulations.” On the other hand, the industry must expand its reach by tapping unserved regions with smaller freighters and connecting them to mainland hubs.
“There is a need to integrate air cargo infrastructure with the country’s overall logistics infrastructure — with the likes of multi-modal logistics hubs specifically catering to airports — and create hubs for trans-shipment of air cargo by simplifying processes,” said the report.
The industry should also provide ancillary infrastructure to shippers across the entire value chain for end-to-end connectivity. This should ideally include adequate facilities for storage and other value-added services.
Foreign carriers like Emirates, Qatar, Cathay Pacific, and Lufthansa currently dominate international air cargo space in the country.
Related stories
Subscribe
- Never miss a story with notifications
- Gain full access to our premium content
- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once
Latest stories