TIACA: Refugee crisis causing cargo delays in Europe

A massive influx of refugees fleeing the war in Syria has resulted in increased wait times at border crossings and reduced volumes for trucking carriers, according to the International Air Cargo Association.    The ongoing influx of refugees fleeing violent conflict in Syria is causing cargo delays across Europe, according to the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA). 
   “The crisis has resulted in increased wait times at border crossings including the Channel Tunnel between Calais, France and Dover, UK as well as causing empty positioning and reduced volumes for road hauliers, having a significant financial impact on European air cargo logistics,” the association said in a statement.
   More than 514,000 people have crossed the Mediterranean to reach Europe, the majority of which were attempting to escape the war in Syria, with almost 3,000 reported casualties or missing persons resulting from the dangerous journey, according to TIACA.
   “We must act together now to stop this human tragedy, and TIACA, which has in-depth expertise on global security issues, is prepared to offer its support in any way it can,” said TIACA Secretary General Doug Brittin, “The tremendous influx of refugees in Europe has a terrible human cost and is also is also impacting our members and our industry.”
   TIACA is urging world leaders to work together at the United Nations meetings this week to find solutions to the ongoing refugee crisis in Europe. 
   The Dutch Association for Transport and Logistics, however, said that “if controls were established across all Schengen borders — the single European zone with borderless travel between 26 states — and led to a one-hour delay in cargo border crossings, the cost for Dutch carriers alone would be 600 million euros (U.S. $670 million) a year.”
   “We must act now to find solutions firstly to resolve the humanitarian crisis and then also to ensure the free flow of goods in Europe,” added Brittin.
   About 30 percent of all airfreight is exported from or imported to Europe, according to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
   The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) is a not-for-profit trade association representing aircraft manufacturers, airports, all-cargo airlines, combination carriers, consultants, Customs brokers, educational institutions, equipment manufacturers, general sales agents, ground handlers, freight forwarders, integrators, IT systems providers, logistics companies, road carriers, shippers, and screening technology developers.