The importance of airfreight and its connection to the Global Supply Chains and to the trend of worldwide economy

Abstract

The thesis is about the state of the air cargo industry, which transports more than 35% of the value of total global trade. I decided to write my thesis on this topic, as I work as cargo handling agent at Venice Airport. Understanding how the situation of airfreight is and how it is connected to Global Value Chains is very interesting to me: in a context of continuous growth of the global markets, it is vital that goods are moved in the shortest time possible, especially high-value and time-sensitive goods. First, there is an introduction on the airfreight industry, explaining what it is and its importance. The air cargo logistics chain is very important in the modern supply chain as it facilitates trade by being very fast and reliable. There is an historical overview on how the sector developed during the years. The business of airfreight is explained completely, highlighting who are the principal actors involved in the system. The focus of the thesis is about the links between air cargo and Global Supply Chains, defined as “networks of domestic and cross-border flows of goods, services, labour and capital”. It examines how airfreight can improve economic growth and make many countries more integrated, competitive and productive. To measure the performances of airfreight sector, it is important to use some indexes that are hereby explained: countries that have better air cargo connections, good customs services and smart borders are also better integrated into GVCs: one of the most important is the Air Connectivity Index. We study some trends, statistics and forecasts about the airfreight market throughout the world, seeing that they are very connected to the trend of the worldwide economy. As conclusion, there is a focus on the air cargo situation in Italy, with a highlight on Venice Airport.