India's government fast tracks air freight stations (AFS)
Source:transportweekly 2014-7-14 10:12:00
India's ministry of civil aviation is to fast-track the development of air freight stations (AFS) forming part of the new government's 100-day achievement, according to Shipping Gazette.
The AFS, off-airport common user facility, will support the growing manufacturing and consumption clusters in the hinterland in order to cut down transaction costs for companies and improve productivity and efficiency.
The off-dock AFS concept was first introduced seven years ago in Chennai but was stalled by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) due to fear of losing control of revenue from the cargo moved to an off-dock AFS.
A common and binding policy will help to facilitate the setting up of AFS which was presented at the latest Air Cargo Logistic Promotion Board meeting in Delhi while a draft guideline was prepared by MoCA.
The advent and success of container freight stations (CFS) in Chennai, Nhava Sheva, Kolkata, Tuticorin and Visakhapatnam is an indicator of success for the air sector in AFS, proving the reduction in dwell times, and utilised installed capacity.