After appointing Frederick Overton as his global cargo head, Aviareps is in search of the air freight industry.
‘Currently, most of our aviation clients are focused on the passenger side. That said, we are actively targeted on aviation customers and cargo ship operators, ”Overton explained.
‘I had the task of growing the cargo sector at Aviareps, and one of our strengths is that we don’t have much luggage from previous years. We are not limited by the traditional ways in which cargo has always been done. “
The move comes during an interesting time for the air freight, with a significant growth in e-commerce, especially from Asia, creating some challenges-especially in terms of nutrition to Asia, especially from Europe.
‘There is a major imbalance in the supply demand between the amount of load to Asia and the available capacity to handle it. This is especially challenging for flights that drive east from Europe, especially to China and neighboring countries. “Sustainability is another constant challenge for both the airline industry and the general sales and service agents (GSSAs) they represent.
‘When we talk to clients, they are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of air freight. We need to offer them the right solutions, whether it is sustainable aviation fuel, digitization or other initiatives to reduce the impact. ”Aviareps has an innovative approach that focuses on the transformative potential for the industry, as digitalization and sustainability are at center.
Whether customers reach out to local branches, book online through airline sites or the use of third-party booking suppliers, this innovation can help maximize sales across all distribution channels.
‘This is where Aviareps can really provide valuable insights. With our extensive experience on the aviation side, we have a unique perspective, ‘Overton said. “One of the first questions I got was: ‘Freddie, what global distribution systems do you use in freight? “And I had to say to them,” Well, there’s not one. ” Unlike the passenger side, where systems are widely used, cargo does not have a shared distribution system. In fact, we are still behind the passenger industry for a few years when it comes to digitization. ‘We do have online discussion platforms, but they still need plugins and APIs to connect, and they function more like web comparison instruments for air freight. “Given that, I believe we can provide a lot of guidance on how to embrace digitalization in cargo and the value it can bring based on our aviation experience.”
Target regions
As for the logistics side, there are certain areas in the industry that show more potential than others if you have a load presence. GSSAs, such as Aviareps, always look at which regions and cargo segments can provide easier opportunities for growth or have most potential to expand their presence.
‘When we approach an airline, they often call challenges like’ Our GSSA does not perform well in this country, ‘or’ we will start a new flight to a destination ‘, or’ we want to start offline sales this country . ‘In about 95 percent of these cases, Aviareps already has a presence in the market, with an office there and local knowledge. It makes us a true growths for the airline and helps them expand, ”Overton said. With Africa growing rapidly in the global economy, especially with strong export markets in different countries, Aviareps sees potential to help customers in areas submitted by the GSSA sector.
South America is also a market that views Aviareps with a commitment to the Northern and South American air freight sectors that are reflected in the company’s presence at occasions in the region, where the team made contact with airlines that have a significant have capacity in these regions. ‘We quickly became very relevant to airlines because of our office presence and the local expertise of the people in those countries. All of our offices are entirely owned, not franchises or a network of GSAs. We own and operate 74 offices worldwide, giving us a unique statement in the air freight market, ”he concluded.
