In an address to attendees of the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation USA 2011 conference, International Air Cargo Association Secretary General Daniel Fernandez advocated the importance of a less-restrictive airfreight sector. Liberalization, Fernandez asserted, will establish new "highways in the sky" and foster economic growth around the globe.

The advantages of liberalization are numerous, Fernandez explained. Doing away with a "bilateral system that is stuck in the past" will enable freight carriers to improve supply chains and expedite the transportation process, he said. It will also benefit manufacturers, who require prompt shipments of time-sensitive goods.

It's why he encourages governments to rethink their approach to airfreight.

"We believe that countries should view air routes as highways in the sky, a competitive public good every bit as important as surface transportation infrastructure," Fernandez told conference attendees. "Under a fully liberalized aviation environment, numerous new international highways in the sky are possible, which would markedly improve the speed and accessibility of a nation's businesses to their global suppliers and customers."

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