MUMBAI: With drastic reduction in flights across the world, air capacity for postal services is currently insufficient, warned
International Air Transport Association
(
IATA
), and the Universal Postal Union (UPU) urging governments to do more to support the movement of mail by air during the COVID-19 crisis.
"Owing to the drastic 95% reduction in
passenger
flights, which are typically used to transport mail, and a 25-30% increase in demand for e-commerce as customers and businesses resort to online purchasing in response to social distancing restrictions, postal administrations are facing a challenge in sending and delivering international mail, in particular, cross-continental mail," said a press release issued by IATA on Monday.
The two bodies called on governments to facilitate the flexibility that
airlines
need to meet this critical demand by removing border blockages to ensure trade flows continue, avoiding unnecessary regulations and fast tracking the issuance of permits for chartered operations. Additionally, ensuring adequately trained staff are available to process and clear the mail upon arrival is essential, it added.
In India currently, all international and domestic passenger flights are banned till May 17 midnight. However repatriation flights and cargo flights within and outside the country hasn’t been banned to ensure the supply of essentials and other necessities like postal services.
“Airlines have been required to cut passenger services in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19. So, it’s vital that everything is done to support the smooth movement of mail which is an important component of society,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.
“Posts are trusted partners in the delivery of goods, vital medical supplies and essential information on the pandemic. The cancellation of more than 4.5 million passenger flights – the primary means of transporting post - has meant that capacity is scarce, costs more and takes longer. Action needs to be swiftly taken to address the shortfall in air cargo capacity and to keep the mail moving,” said UPU director general Bishar A Hussein.
G20 governments, at their recent emergency meetings, committed to “minimize disruptions to trade and global supply chains and identified the need to prioritize keeping air logistics networks open and functioning efficiently. Posts and airlines are cooperating to meet this priority by ensuring that reliable operations continue throughout the pandemic.
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