The global supply chain is becoming increasingly dependent on the rapid and reliable movement of high-value low-weight goods such as computer parts. Air transportation facilitates such movements by:
• providing fast and reliable delivery of high-value products: especially relevant to modern-dynamic industries, such as the pharmaceutical/ biotechnology and telecommunication equipment sectors;
• increasing the range of product markets: the development of e-business helps companies identify low-cost suppliers and air transport helps connect buyers and suppliers;
• improving companies’ handling of returns and complaints: for example, allowing a quick turnaround of repairs or delivery of replacement parts;
• facilitating the development of e-commerce: enabling, for example, companies to transport online shopping orders quickly and reliably between countries, allowing products to be stored in large warehouses reducing retail and distribution costs;
• facilitating improved stockmanagement and production techniques: reducing companies’ storage costs, losses due to stockoutages and disruption caused by failure of machinery on production lines; and
• facilitating the development of the express carrier industry: which provides guaranteed, rapid, door-to-door delivery services and increasingly offers logistics support for companies.