Evaluation of the Effects of Air Cargo Transportation on Global Competitiveness

Global competitiveness has become just as crucial in the rapidly growing world economy. For this reason, the problem of delivering the products to the consumer at the right place and time has become indispensable to survive in the global market and has brought the logistics factor to the fore. One of these logistics activities, the transportation sector, ensures that human needs are met at the desired place and on time. It has become essential to deliver products to target markets faster and safer than their competitors, and airplanes have been used in cargo and passenger transportation. The rapid technological change has also led to aircraft development used in cargo transportation. Thus, air cargo transportation, which is less risky and faster than other transportation modes, has come to the fore in time-bound and valuable goods. The main purpose of this study, which is carried out with the qualitative research method, is to determine and evaluate the effects of air cargo transportation on global competitiveness. In the study, firstly, the concept of air cargo transportation tried to be explained. Then, the literature review created the background of the study. In this context, the development process of air cargo transportation was discussed in terms of its historical, corporate, and economic development. Then, the types of aircraft used, airports, and cargo companies operating on a global scale, which are the elements of air cargo transportation, were examined. In addition to the high capacity and fuel efficiency produced by the current technology of the aircraft, the issue of further reduction of costs due to capacity increase by optimizing the loading problem has been mentioned. Finally, by analyzing the findings, the effects of air cargo transportation on global competitiveness were discussed and evaluated, and suggestions were made to increase this power. This article, which is a direct study on the effects of air cargo transportation on global competitiveness, is crucial as it will contribute to the literature.