Identify Current Air Cargo Use

A region can be home to an array of manufacturers of air-eligible goods, as well as shippers and consignees who demand air cargo services for outbound and inbound shipments. Notable companies located in a region that produce air-eligible goods include manufacturers of items such as semiconductors, aerospace parts, electronics, medical devices, and distribution centers for online retailers. The items produced and shipped by these types of businesses include commodities that are high in value, low in weight and time and temperature sensitive – ideal attributes of air-eligible goods. Armed with an understanding of the regional air cargo users, an airport’s air cargo development plan can be shaped and improvements can be pursued.

Stakeholder input and outreach efforts can yield insightful information with respect to competitive factors and the reasons why certain shipments may not move via an airport. The airport can then consider possible counter measures designed to re-capture freight lost to other airports. A regional chamber of commerce network is a good place to reach out to local corporations that use the airport for shipping. Regular attendance and participation in chamber events can put the air cargo manager in touch with executives who determine how their company’s inbound and outbound goods and resources move.

Once local firms with the propensity to use air cargo have been identified, interviews and/or surveys can be carried out with management (logistics) personnel of local firms that use or have the potential to use air cargo service. More information on the types of data to gather from shippers is included in the tools.