The Federal Aviation Administration is cutting flight capacity by 10% at 40 major U.S. airports due to staffing shortages amid the ongoing federal government shutdown — a move logistics experts say could slow airfreight deliveries during peak shipping season, according to a Nov. 6 report from CNBC.
Airfreight — which can include medical devices, pharmaceuticals and other critical healthcare supplies — is stowed in the belly of aircraft of both commercial airlines and dedicated cargo carriers like UPS, FedEx and DHL.
About 35% of air cargo consists of high-value or time-sensitive products, according to logistics company C.H.Robinson. This includes pharmaceuticals, medical devices and just-in-time manufacturing components. The company said it is working with customers to move freight to ground transportation when possible.
The FAA’s flight reduction affects major hubs in New York and New Jersey, as well as airports in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles. With thousands of daily flights canceled, medical shippers may face delays despite rerouting efforts through regional airports, as some regional airports lack the infrastructure to handle redirected loads efficiently, cargo operators warned.
Demand for airfreight has also increased, with shipping rates from China to the U.S. rising by 17% in recent weeks — a trend which could exacerbate the effects of the FAA’s cuts, CNBC reported.
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