German logistics industry founds initiative in support of night flights
Germany’s transport and logistics industry is championing competitive operating times at the country’s commercial airports. The Association of German Freight Forwarders & Logistics Operators (DSLV), the Federal Association of Road Haulage, Logistics & Disposal (BGL), the Forwarding & Logistics Association of Hessen/Rheinland-Pfalz, the Board of Airline Representatives in Germany (BARIG) and the Air Cargo Club Germany (ACD) have joined with Lufthansa Cargo in Frankfurt to found the Cargo needs the night initiative. According to the honorary managing director of the initiative, Ewald Heim, the logistics sector is the backbone of Germany’s export business, and the basic prerequisite for its success in world markets is reliable, trouble-free air cargo connections. He said that the ‘Cargo needs the night‘ initiative will press hard for competitive operating hours at commercial airports in Germany. The initiative will highlight the importance of the logistics industry for Germany’s economy. About 40% of the value of domestic exports is transported worldwide by air. Night flights are a key component in functioning global supply chains. Politicians and the public need to be more aware of the importance of air cargo for German industry, which is dependent on exports. Lufthansa Cargo CEO & chairman Carsten Spohr said: "The right of local residents living near the airport to be protected from unnecessary noise is not at issue. We accept our responsibility as an airline and we are investing massive sums in new technologies. At the same time, we are responsible for thousands of jobs in the logistics industry in Germany, which is an export and industrial nation. Germany is the world’s second-largest exporter – thanks above all to its logistics expertise. Anyone who shuts down central logistics hubs at night is acting irresponsibly and putting the future viability of Germany’s export industry at risk." Speaking on behalf of the federal government, the Parliamentary State Secretary at the Ministry of Transport, Building & Urban Development, Jan Mücke, stressed the importance of having a competitive logistics industry in Germany. "In order to retain and expand Germany’s leading position in the logistics sector, politicians must optimise the conditions for competition in the industry. Besides increasing airport capacity, the government’s aim is to guarantee internationally competitive operating hours." Germany already has the most stringent night flight restrictions In recent years, German courts have increasingly issued one-sided rulings. Absolute bans on night flights jeopardise the competitiveness of Germany’s airports and of the entire export industry. All important air cargo hubs in Europe that compete with Germany as a business location, such as Amsterdam, Paris, London and Madrid, ensure economically essential night flights. This applies to an even greater extent to airports in the Gulf region that compete with Germany on transcontinental routes between Asia and Europe or Asia and America. Spohr called on the federal government to create reliable framework conditions, saying that is the only way that companies can make long-term investments in a location. "Logistics is a growth industry and it will remain so. It already accounts for 10% of Germany’s economic strength. In order to grow further and to create new perspectives, we must have planning reliability and a demand-driven infrastructure," he concluded. Quelle: eyefortransport |