cargo gateway
to target and grow new cargo segments. For instance, the opening of Coolport@Changi by Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS), Singapore’s first air freight terminal dedicated to perishables cargo handling, will position Changi as an efficient and reliable hub for perishables trade in Asia.” He went on: “The Singapore Freeport, a state-of-the-art
storage facility with direct access to the airport terminal, provides international fine art collectors, auction houses and financial institutions with a secure location to store and trade valuable assets and collections. “These two projects will create new value-added services
and market opportunities for airlines and cargo agents across Asia Pacific to capture new trade flows,” he enthused. Other measures to boost volumes have included the
Cargo Incentive Scheme, aimed at offering additional cost relief in 2009 to CAG cargo tenants. This was extended and further enhanced this year. “Changi’s cargo community has responded positively and we have maintained good warehouse occupancy despite the downturn,” Lim observed. Furthermore: “Earlier this year, CAG launched the new
Changi Airport Growth Initiative, under which we will partner the cargo community with better customisation and flexibility to help them achieve their growth plans.” All these programmes can add to the benefits that
accrue from Changi’s location in a region of economic and trade boom. “Singapore and Changi are competing from a position of strength as a leading global logistics hub and international cargo airport,” he considers.
VIBRANT COMMUNITY Lim said: “Changi is one of Singapore’s critical success factors as a leading global logistics hub in Asia. The World Bank Logistics Performance Index 2009 study, ranking 155 countries on logistics performance, placed Singapore top in Asia and second globally after Germany. Singapore has consistently ranked well in key parameters such as efficiency of cargo clearance, quality of trade and transport infrastructure, timeliness of international shipments and competence of logistics service providers.” He pointed out: “There is also a vibrant
community of third-party logistics service providers and integrated express companies with significant regional headquarter functions and logistics operations here in Singapore.” It is not just South-East Asia that is
enjoying steady development, Lim explained: “The Asian growth story is not a zero-sum game and the faster air freight growth in northern Asia will have
Lim: “Changi has weathered the storm relatively well”
CHANGI-BASED Singapore Airlines Cargo (SIA Cargo) is surely enjoying 2010 a lot more than it did last year but the freight carrier is not allowing itself to get carried away. SIA Cargo saw improved loads and yields in
the first quarter of the 2010-11 financial year – the period ending 30 June – compared to the same three months of the year-earlier period. But, a spokesman noted, the outlook for the rest of this financial year is no more than one of “cautious optimism”. He pointed out: “The overhang of the
European debt crisis and recent slowdown of manufacturing in Asia point to a potentially difficult recovery.” On the subject of possible network changes
in the coming few months, the cargo carrier noted: “We adjust our capacity deployment to match demand. “Long-haul flights have been reviewed and
restructured to improve flight economics. We will also keep close tabs on emerging opportunities in the regional markets and align our capacity deployment accordingly.”
a positive spin-off for the rest of Asia and South-East Asia, including Singapore. “This is especially so in view of the rise of intra-Asia trade and free trade agreements, as well as the rapidly growing middle class, which are important drivers for long-term air cargo growth. “For instance, between 2003 and 2008, trade
volume between ASEAN (Association of South- East Asian Nations) and India grew fourfold while trade volumes between ASEAN members and China tripled. “The new ASEAN-China and ASEAN-India
free trade agreements, which came into effect this year, are expected to accelerate trade growth within Asia,” Lim added. Noting that several more agreements are expected to be reached by ASEAN members with South Korea, Australia and Japan, he concluded: “If all these free trade agreements realise their full potential, Singapore and Changi would also benefit from it.”
AIR LOGISTICSCHINA 39
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60