Geneva (dpa) - The world's airlines no longer have enough capacity to meet demand for cargo shipments as fleets are grounded because of the coronavirus pandemic, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Tuesday.
While air cargo volumes fell by more than 15 per cent in March year-on-year, capacities dropped by an even steeper 23 per cent, the industry group reported in Geneva.
"The gap must be addressed quickly because vital supplies must get to where they are needed most," IATA chief Alexandre de Juniac said.
Air shipment demand has doubled for medicines that are needed because of the pandemic, he pointed out.
While carriers have started adapting passenger aircraft for cargo flights, IATA urged governments to remove bureaucratic barriers for charter operations, and to exempt cargo crews from quarantine rules.
IATA warned that the current capacity shortfall would be short-lived, as the global recession is expected to deal further blows to global manufacturing industries, and to demand for cargo transport.
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