Disrupting the Cargo Business Model at PIT

By Bryan Dietz

Published June 26, 2023

Read Time: 5 mins

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As the COVID-19 pandemic decimated most industries, including commercial air travel, its fraternal twin air cargo surged in activity and profitability. This was a boon for airports (including Pittsburgh) that saw record levels of cargo service and traffic as shippers and forwarders sought alternatives to badly congested major gateway airports.

Now, as supply chains and the world economy stabilize, one key question is the degree to which the air cargo industry returns to pre-pandemic “business as usual.” Will it go back to concentrating international freight at primary gateway airports in order to minimize cost per kilo at the expense of slower and less-reliable service? Or will enough shippers and consignees stay committed to increasing their supply chain resilience by continuing to use alternate airports in order to reduce dependence on major gateways that may suffer additional disruptions in the future?

Will forwarders and shippers go back to the old ways?

The pandemic wrought many changes in the world and reminded C-suites and boardrooms that supply chains are both critical to their businesses and a major source of risk. Further, there seems to be a widespread expectation that the world economy will see more significant disruptions—whether from public health emergencies, natural disasters, geopolitical tensions or other causes—in the next 10 years than in the decade preceding the pandemic. One key strategic question is how the world will chan