Page 24 - ITLN May - June 2022 issue

Industry Report
Air Cargo

How airlines’ cargo business

can earn better yields

by applying AI, ML

As a capital intensive industry, air cargo needs to innovate SOPs and optimise operations to
stay in the business. It is particularly important when the market is moving through a rough
and volatile period in history. Thus any technology that can reduce the complexity and cost
would see a high adoption rate. AI, ML and data visualisation have already proved not just in
managing the cargo business for airlines but also in improving their yields.
Libin Chacko Kurian

n the recently concluded annual the agri sector, we are targeting 53
event of Air Cargo Forum India cargo terminals connecting airports
(ACFI), union minister of civil aviation with agriculture farmlands for the
IJyotiraditya Scindia emphasised that transport of perishable commodities.
the growth potential for air cargo in India So now, green shoots from Assam
is tremendous and he is certain that or Tripura's jackfruits can travel to
India will emerge as a global air cargo London and Germany rather than only
player in the coming years. being consumed internally in Kolkata,
India currently has close to 3.1 million Hyderabad, Chennai, etc,” he said.
tonnes of air cargo annual throughput Indeed, cargo has proven itself to be a
and the government has set up an key revenue generator for Indian airlines
ambitious target of 10 million by 2030. in the chaos of the global pandemic,
“We will develop a hub and spoke and now the stage is set for air cargo
arrangement and build transhipment to grow into India’s globalized future.
hubs across India. Giving a boost to However, the industry is plagued with

22 May - June 2022 www.itln.in