Vipin Vohra, Chairman, Continental Carriers and a known veteran of the cargo fraternity, talks in detail about the major challenges being faced by the freight forwarders community.

We all are going through a time where everyone in the industry is stressed for survival. In the present scenario, the trade is not in a position to meet the CASS calendar for freight payment to airlines. The trade is genuinely facing difficulty in getting payment from their clients. All the factories / shippers / consignees are closed because of the lockdown. Therefore, we requested IATA CASS / AIR INDIA / AIRLINES to give extension of the date to make payments. Unfortunately IATA did not accept the request made by the Freight Forwarders.

As far as the challenges concerned, the logistics industry has never faced challenges like it does today.  Shortage of staff under social pressures due to virus, lack of e-passes for the available staff, lack of transports – all are resulting in slow movement of cargo and slow inflow of funds is adding fuel to the fire. Slow cargo movement is happening due to lack of international / domestic flights. The freighter airlines who are flying into India are charging very high rates. Government must allow more and more international airlines to fly to and from India to create competition in reducing freight cost.