‘India must take concerted policy decisions if it is to remain competitive in the global air logistics industry’ - Experts

With an ever-increasing convergence of aviation, globalization, digitization, and time-based competition, the worlds of commerce and supply chain management are rapidly changing. E-Commerce is refining the entire way the business has been done. Innovation is driving change of pace of discovering and establishing new business. The opportunities – as well as the challenges – are now greater than ever before.


This was the general refrain at the Summit on Air Logistics – Meeting Challengesorganized by the Aviation and Airports Committee of the Indian Merchants’ Chamber here today.

Speakers agreed that India will become the fastest growing economy in the world and will continue to do for many years to come. Falling oil prices have helped the country maintain fiscal deficit under control and also helped contain inflation below 5% after many years. There is a sense of optimism everywhere and it should be capitalized by the air logistics industry.

Over the years air cargo has grown without being given serious attention to it by anyone in the country, whether the Government or the trade bodies, thus increasing competition from other modes of transport. Air cargo constitutes just 0.5% of the total Exim trade in India down from 1% in past years. The time has come to seriously look at marketing Air cargo and its benefits to the trade in India,if we have to seriously look at increasing the air cargo in the country. How that can be done is something over which the industry needs to ponder quickly. It is without doubt that sea freight has become more efficient over the past years vis-à-vis the air mode and so poses a challenge to it.

According to Mr. Bharat Thakkar, Co-Chairman, Airports and Aviation Committee, who moderated the Summit, the existing regulations in the civil aviation sector in India often hinder the ease of operations of airlines, as well as the growth and development of the air cargo industry. It is felt that Indian regulations are too stringent and not in line with global standards and best practices. It would therefore be essential to change many regulations to facilitate the efficiency of airlines and the passenger and cargo sectors.

Earlier, welcoming the participants, Mr. Dilip Piramal, President, IMC, said that growth itself is a big challenge for many airport operators as they strive to expand infrastructure capacity to match demand. There are issues of accountability and the service standards of service providers, as well as the availability of appropriate infrastructure to meet the growing and varying demands of air passengers and cargo.  Regulatory pressures also add to the burden of the industry.


IMC is a 108 year old premier Chamber of Commerce, Trade and Industry and reaches out to over 225,000 business establishments through its membership base. 

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