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Security concern
Karl Ulrich Garnadt, chairman and CEO of Lufthansa Cargo, one of the world’s biggest air freight carriers, spoke at the recent World Cargo Symposium held in Istanbul by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on the vital subject of air cargo security
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Security is at the top of the airline’s list of priorities, every bit as much as other important
priorities such as rising oil prices and environmental issues. Air cargo security and the way we all deal with it is vital to
the future of Lufthansa Cargo. The efficiency with which we deal with the security problems that face us will decide the future of the entire air cargo industry. Air freight and the way it moves is a vital aspect of the whole global supply chain and it is important to everyone that it moves freely.
Lufthansa Cargo has established its own security
department, which deals with the problems on a daily basis in co-operation with legislators and the airline’s management. The department holds two areas to be of vital importance: firstly, we will make no compromise on air cargo security, we simply cannot afford to do that.
Secondly, security starts at source, not just when cargo
arrives with or gets close to the airline. This is not the way to deal with the problems. Also it is a misconception to assume that air cargo security is regarded with any less importance on flights by freighter aircraft than by passenger jet. How can I tell my freighter crews that their safety is of any less importance than people on a passenger flight?
The responsibility for air cargo security is not just limited
to the airlines as some people would like to see. Every member of the logistics chain is responsible – and it is in their interest and to their benefit to be involved.
This includes shippers, the manufacturers of goods
around the world who rely on air freight to distribute their high-value products quickly to the end-consumer. Air freight accounts for only 2 percent of all the cargo moving around
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the world, but this constitutes 35 percent of the value of goods in transit at any time.
Global trade is unthinkable without air cargo. So, the
industry must have the best possible achievable air cargo security in place. It is in the interest of the shippers to see that air freight security starts as early as possible in the logistics supply chain.
Air freight forwarders play a major role. They are the link
between the shipper and the airline. They have a specific responsibility and must act appropriately on this issue. The regulatory authorities also have a huge role to play. There is no single, exclusive way to achieve air cargo security... We have a huge responsibility as partners in the logistical chain and the airline must work to coordinate all its efforts with the regulatory authorities.
Lufthansa Cargo recognises its responsibility as a
partner in the logistics supply chain. But, at the same time, it must provide services at an affordable, sustainable cost level. So we do not need excessive measures, we need risk- based ones and these need to be reasonable, efficient, productive and affordable.
Given the vital importance of air cargo security to the
Lufthansa Cargo business, we need to co-operate with the authorities, and we want to co-operate with the authorities. We want to provide our professional input and we have accrued a vast amount of professional knowledge over the past years. The air cargo industry does not want to be treated as suspects by the authorities, but as an equal with valuable experience to bring to the whole process of air cargo security. It’s the only way we can move forward.
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