PARIS, Jan 25: The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has reported in Paris, at the close of a special workshop devoted to the problems of the air cargo sector, that the outlook for cargo traffic “appears to be improving” after a weak period that began in the fall of 2000, and was “exacerbated” by the World Trade Center attack of last September 11.

According to participants in the workshop, whose principal focus, according to its official title, was “Liberalization of Air Cargo Transport,” the trend in air cargo traffic since late last year, a tendency based on the most recent data available, had it that cargo traffic has been positive in some regions, and that more growth is expected “from now on.”

Although, in the words of Wolfgang Hübner of the OECD’s Transport Division, the circumstances of individual carriers differ, “most expect air cargo demand to increase slowly in the first half of 2002 (+1 per cent), and then accelerate (+3 per cent) in the second half of the year.” Moreover, he reports, “stronger growth — of up to 9 per cent — is expected in 2003,” and this “on the basis of projected increases in levels of economic activity around the world.”

The workshop, which was attended by representatives from OECD countries, the air cargo industry and international organizations, also reviewed regulatory conditions in the air cargo sector, which is currently subject to controls similar to those covering air passenger services. Many of these, according to participants, “create barriers to efficient air cargo services and are perceived by users as inappropriate to their needs.”

Participants in the workshop also made it clear that they considered the “relaxation” of existing restrictions on international traffic rights as a necessity, for such a move “would allow better market access and improve the industry’s ability to meet user requirements.”

Moreover, participants noted, “removal of government controls over ownership and control of air of air carriers,” in the words of an OECD spokesman, “would allow for the development of industry structures and services better suited to global and regional air cargo tasks.” The spokesman, however, said, “there was general agreement that such liberalization measures should only be undertaken if essential public interest regulatory controls over aviation safety and aviation security can be assured.” Then too, said the spokesman, “attention also needs to be given to environmental considerations and infrastructure constraints.”

Given the conclusions drawn by workshop participants, and the recommendations that were made, OECD member governments, said the spokesman, “will be able to consider whether to draw on these approaches in order to progress towards air cargo market liberalization, or alternatively whether to use selected provisions aimed at liberalising air cargo services.”