Public-Private Joint Effort Opens Fully Blocked Sky Export Route

Mu-hyup-Industry Department Transports 34 Tons of Urgent Air Cargo to China and Indonesia Using Idle Passenger Planes

On the 27th, employees are busy loading air cargo in subzero weather at the Korean Air Cargo Terminal of Incheon International Airport. / Yeongjongdo - Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy urgently arranged two special passenger cargo flights on the 29th to send them to Chongqing, China, and Jakarta, Indonesia, to support Korean export companies facing difficulties in air cargo transportation due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

The charter flight to Chongqing carried 18 tons of products from 26 Korean export-import companies, including semiconductors and related materials, while the flight to Jakarta carried about 16 tons of cargo from 12 companies, including air purifiers, textiles, and diagnostic kits.

Kim Young-joo, chairman of KITA, who observed the charter flight operation at Incheon Airport on the day, said, "As a result of actively conveying the recent surge in air cargo export difficulties faced by companies to the government and discussing alternatives, special charter flights could be arranged. We will continue to closely cooperate with export companies, trade-related organizations, and the government to support expanding exports without hesitation."

To operate this charter flight, KITA conducted a survey on air cargo transportation demand of export-import companies in March in cooperation with related organizations such as the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Korea Federation of SMEs, the Korea Employers Federation, the Korea Association of Mid-sized Companies, and KOTRA. Afterward, through consultations with airlines and international logistics forwarders, regions with high air cargo transportation demand, Chongqing, China, and Jakarta, Indonesia, were finally selected as priority areas for special charter flight operations.

Additionally, to ensure smooth logistics throughout the entire process from domestic cargo collection to local inland transportation, forwarders with expertise in each country were identified and selected, and in consultation with airlines, cargo freight rates were set about 25% lower than current levels to minimize the burden on companies.

Park Cheon-il, head of the Member Support Headquarters, said, "Due to foreign entry restrictions imposed by countries worldwide, passenger flights have been suspended, reducing the supply of air cargo (belly cargo) loaded in the remaining space of passenger flights, and freight rates have soared. As a result, transportation of our key export items such as semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and fresh food has become difficult. We will closely discuss with the government to consider whether to operate additional special charter flights."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.