“Cautious optimism” has become an oft-used term in the air cargo industry, and that figures to continue in 2014. Several of our articles in this issue bear this out.
Manufacturers who use airfreight to ship their goods might have one of the best perspectives of the industry. They are also an important segment of Air Cargo World’s readership. They feel the ups and downs of the sector on a daily basis. So we are glad to include their valuable insight in Air Cargo World’s first shippers roundtable.
This feature includes the opinions of nine shippers from around the globe, representing some of the big names in key industries that use airfreight, including semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and security equipment. They offer an honest outlook for the coming year. Please turn to p. 26 to get their read on the industry.
Continuing to take the pulse of air cargo, we also have our annual Air Cargo Forecast, which begins on p. 30. This year, it’s written by Cathy Roberson, senior analyst with Transport Intelligence. This comprehensive industry outlook also examines the prospects for airplane builders and freight forwarders.
Latin America is a pocket of economic growth, and some of the world’s leading airlines are expanding in the region to take advantage of the growing cargo landscape. The fastest growing segment here is traffic within Latin American nations. Perishables and pharmaceuticals are among the big drivers of cargo growth. Our feature, which begins on p. 22, takes a look at the Latin cargo boom.
Our Middle East/Africa news section, which begins on p. 10, includes our first interview with Nabil Sultan, the new head of cargo at Emirates. Sultan offers his perspective on his airline’s growth and the prospects for the industry in general in 2014.