Shipper fury as spot rates soar - and box lines ignore contracts
The sense of genuine anger amongst North European shippers and freight forwarders was palpable this ...
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By Alex Lennane
Shippers have fired a warning shot at airlines, saying they are considering asking the European Commission’s Competition Directorate to investigate the recent spate of carriers changing surcharge methodology from actual weight to chargeable weight.
Following announcements by Emirates, Lufthansa and Korean Air, the list of carriers changing their methodology has grown to include Singapore Airlines, Jet Airways, Japan Airlines Cargo, Asiana and AirFrance-KLM.
As a result of the change, large shippers, particularly in the garment and hi-tech sectors where some 80% of ...
Comment on this article
Peter Walter
September 19, 2013 at 6:13 amWith near zero margins – you cannot really blame the carriers for trying to secure some additional revenue. Look at what’s happened on the passenger side? Carriers face ever increasing costs for services such as security and advanced customs reporting. Carriers cannot continue to absorb such costs without some recompense.
Adriaan Groenendijk
September 24, 2013 at 7:51 amShippers need transparency and mid-term visability/forecasting possibilities on expected shipping-costs.
Shippers and their supply chains hate surprises.
This is a “Hit-and-run”-tactic of airlines to temporarily boost revenues of an ailing industry.
“Warp speed to full modal shift, Mr.Sulu!”