Vital Views 1975-2015  

    The year 2015 marks our 40th year in the world of air cargo news reporting—first as Air Cargo News and now as FlyingTypers.
   In 2015 we are fortunate to present the writings of the 102-year-old Richard Malkin, who remains the first air cargo reporter in history (circa 1942) and now serves as FlyingTypers' Senior Editor.
     Here Richard recalls the views of executives over the four decades.
   

Jay Shelat, vice president-cargo, Jet Airways (India), directing attention to the logistics aspect in India, said: “The logistics business is seeing a sea change in the intramodal transportation system. The Indian railway network, which is a sleeping giant spanning the length and breadth of the country, is gearing up to contribute and get on to the supply chain gravy train. Improved and additional ports have a key role to play in the air-sea business. This area has a huge potential in reducing the transit time of pure sea freight and reducing the cost of pure air freight.”

Klaus Holler, Lufthansa Cargo’s vice president – Americas, exerts emphasis on the principle that “maximum security demands maximum preparation and effort.” He considered security to be the international air cargo industry’s major problem.

B. F. Spohrer, president of Challenge Air Cargo, expressed amazement by “the dynamic changes” taking place in Latin America. Acknowledging the existence of “many daunting challenges” in the immediate future, he continued: “I firmly believe that the Latin American market is poised for a decade of dramatic growth in air cargo. Indeed, I look upon Latin America as the next major frontier for the air cargo business.”

A.N. Morgan, market analyst, addressing a meeting of industrial traffic managers in Dallas, said: “Unless cargo-handling methods on the airport and within the warehouse are geared to greater speed on the ground, the contributions of set air transport are reduced.