The CLEARVIEW Summit 2024 hosted by Kale Logistics Solutions on 18 to 19 October 2024 at Istanbul, Turkey brought together leaders from the air cargo and logistics industry from eight countries to discuss critical issues, including air cargo collaboration, e-commerce, AI and sustainability.
Participants addressed the growing importance of data in logistics, focusing on challenges related to data protection, quality, and security risks. Real-time data was highlighted as essential for improving supply chain efficiency and agility. A SWOT analysis suggested leveraging strengths such as cost efficiency and real-time availability while addressing weaknesses such as data quality and dependence on third parties.
Collaboration vs confrontation
The panel explored collaboration within the industry. While Europe was noted for its structured processes, regions like the Indian subcontinent face significant operational challenges. Participants called for a more community-driven approach, advocating for Cargo Community Systems (CCS) that offer transparent data sharing and better coordination among stakeholders. The central theme was the global implementation of CCS to streamline logistics and ensure efficient data exchange. A top-down approach, starting with local communities and expanding nationally, was recommended. CCS were viewed as crucial for creating win-win scenarios for all stakeholders, improving transparency and efficiency.
e-commerce and air cargo
e-commerce was highlighted as a driver of air cargo growth, accounting for 80 per cent of cross-border shipments. Projections suggest e-commerce will make up 30 per cent of air cargo volumes by 2027. The discussion emphasised the need for scalable, agile logistics solutions to accommodate this growth, with China playing a key role in global e-commerce supply chains.
Sustainability in aviation
A focus of day II was aviation’s role in global sustainability. Aviation contributes
2 to 3 per cent of carbon emissions, but its impact receives disproportionate public attention. Despite improvements in fuel efficiency, the rise in flight numbers has offset this progress. Public sentiment around ‘flight shame’ and aviation’s environmental impact remains a challenge for the industry.
Capacity constraints
With e-commerce continuing to expand rapidly, concerns were raised about the capacity of air and ground infrastructure. Existing airport warehouses and cargo hubs are nearing capacity, and more investment in IT systems, automation, and warehousing is required to meet future demand. Regional import-export imbalances further exacerbate capacity challenges.
Sustainability challenges
The panel discussed difficulties of meeting next gen goals by 2050. While electrification and SAF offer potential solutions, the tech for full decarbonisation is still underdeveloped. SAF remains expensive and limited in availability, leaving the industry’s long-term sustainability plan uncertain.
Conclusion
The summit underlined need for collaboration, innovation, and investment in both infra and sustainability. Recommendations include improving data quality through CCS, expanding warehousing and automation to handle growing e-commerce volumes, and giving pace to development of SAF to meet climate goals.
