Air cargo has proven essential throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The sector has ensured the continuity of global value chains — supporting the survival of European businesses. It has also played a pivotal role in the transport of essential goods ranging from personal protective equipment (PPE) to medicines, medical equipment, and vaccines.
The European Commission (EC) launched several important initiatives since the outbreak of the pandemic to ensure that air cargo could continue to fulfil its vital role for European citizens and businesses. First and foremost, it introduced “Green Lanes” to streamline cross-border cargo transport, ease the administrative and logistical burden on cargo operators and ensure the effective and continued free movement of goods. The EC also issued airfreight-specific measures. These include recommendations to Member States to grant temporary traffic rights for additional cargo operations from outside the EU; removing night curfews and/or slot restrictions at airports for essential air cargo operations; enabling the use of passenger aircraft for cargo-only operations (so-called “preighters”) and exempting cargo pilots and crew from travel restrictions.