AIR CARG O WEEK


SPECIAL CARGO


MUMMY DARLING AS EFM GOES ON TOUR


THERE IS A STORY IN AIRFREIGHT ABOUT AN ARTIST SAWING A PAINTING IN HALF WHEN IT WAS TOO LARGE TO BE LOADED ONTO AN AIRCRAFT. SUCH AN ACT IS UNIMAGINABLE TODAY.


“Moving priceless artworks between museum locations by air is a niche but fast-growing segment of global logistics”


I


n the 1960s, a British artist based in Malta was said to be shipping an artwork back to London. On arrival at Valetta airport, he was told it was too big to load. Taking out a saw, he is said to have cut it in half, saying it could be reassembled on arrival. This unlikely tale reflects how much such art transport has changed


in the last sixty years. Moving


priceless high-value artworks between museum locations insurance, bespoke packaging, by


air is a niche but fast-growing segment of global logistics that combines


climate


control and diplomatic customs work. Modern fine-art air logistics requires bespoke crates, vibration-damped palletisation, active environmental monitoring (temp/humidity/light), GPS tracking and often an institutional and possibly armed courier escort to reduce risk during origin/destination handling and customs. The sector’s commercial scale is measured in billions:


recent


market reports place the global fine-art/fine-arts logistics market in the low-to-mid single-digit billions ($2.9–3.4 billion) in the mid- 2020s) with multi-percent CAGR forecasts into the 2030s as museum touring, fairs and cross-border sales expand. That steady


growth reflects rising online sales, more international exhibitions and demand for climate-controlled storage and transport. Practical challenges are many. Damage during transit remains the dominant operational risk - specialist


insurers report that


around half of insured losses arise from accidental damage in transit - so rigorous packaging, specialist handling and pre- and post-transit condition reporting are essentials. Regulatory and customs complexity, such as temporary export licences, cultural property checks, airport access limits for oversized pieces and co- ordinating installation windows with host museums add layers of project management. Security, such as theft risk carbon footprint of air movements and rapidly rising freight/charter costs further complicate planning and budgeting. Who provides these services? There is a well-established ecosystem of specialist


forwarders and art-logistics providers


- names you will commonly see include Crown Fine Art, Cadogan Tate, Momart, Gander & White, Dietl, Convelio and numerous regional


specialists - alongside mainstream forwarders with fine-art divisions. Industry networks and associations (e.g., IELA


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