The effects of the air traffic control disruption at Heathrow are likely to continue for several days, affecting urgent, time-sensitive and specialist air freight shipments, the British International Freight Association (BIFA) has warned.
Although the technical issue has been resolved, flight cancellations, delays and diversions will have disrupted goods transported in the belly holds of passenger aircraft, according to the association.
“The impact of the Heathrow air traffic control disruption extends beyond passengers. A significant volume of air freight is carried in the belly hold of passenger aircraft, meaning cancellations, delays and diversions will also have disrupted the movement of goods and affected the businesses that depend on them,” Pawel Jarza, Policy, Compliance and External Affairs Director at BIFA, said.
“Although the technical issue has been resolved, the knock-on effects are likely to continue for several days especially for urgent, time-sensitive or specialist consignments.”
Airfreight plays a critical role in transporting perishable, valuable and urgently required goods, including fresh produce, medical supplies and components for the automotive, technology and manufacturing industries. Delays to these consignments can affect product availability, disrupt production schedules and create difficulties for businesses operating time-sensitive supply chains, BIFA said. Freight forwarders are now working with airlines, ground handlers, Customs authorities and international partners to manage the disruption. Their immediate priorities include identifying alternative routes, prioritising affected shipments and keeping customers updated as operations recover.
“BIFA members will be working closely with airlines, ground handlers, Customs and their international networks to prioritise shipments, assess alternative routes and keep customers informed as the situation changes,” Jarza said.
BIFA called for the incident to be assessed after normal operations resume, with a focus on measures that could improve the resilience of the UK’s aviation infrastructure.
“Reliable air connectivity is essential not only for passengers, but for the supply chains and businesses that depend on Heathrow as a major international cargo gateway,” Jarza said.
The post BIFA warns of continued airfreight disruption at Heathrow appeared first on Air Cargo Week.
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Author: Anastasiya Simsek
