AIRLINES MOVE FREIGHT AGAIN FOR “KNOWN SHIPPERS”

AIRLINES MOVE FREIGHT AGAIN FOR “KNOWN SHIPPERS”

AIRLINES MOVE FREIGHT AGAIN FOR “KNOWN SHIPPERS”

   Airlines’ freight activities are returning to normal following the terrorist attacks and hijacking in the United States, but airlines say they are imposing restrictions or bans on the carriage of freight from “unknown shippers.”
   Danzas AEI, the global freight forwarder, reported that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is lifting the restrictions in place since Sept. 11 that prohibit carriage of cargo and mail on passenger aircraft.
   The FAA said Tuesday that “mail and freight is now permitted on passenger flights, but are subject to heightened security procedures,” and asks that inquiries be directed to the U.S. Postal Service.
   After the closure of the U.S. air space, freighters were allowed to fly to and from the United States, but passenger planes’ belly capacity could not be used to move freight.
   American Airlines, U.S. Airways and other airlines said they have embargoed shipments from unknown shippers until further notice.
   “American Airlines Cargo division continues to operate according to FAA security directives, which allow acceptance of freight, mail and over-the-counter shipments in non-U.S. locations for transport to the first point of landing within the United States,” the airline said in a statement on its Web site. “In U.S. locations, shipments of U.S. and military mail, human blood, organs and remains can be accepted.”
   Lufthansa said that Lufthansa Cargo has returned to regular operation to North America and that transport in the belly of Lufthansa passenger aircraft is possible, with the security restrictions already published.
   Swisscargo said it accepts cargo from known shippers and cargo received from FAA-approved Indirect Air Carriers not identified as originating from an unknown shipper.
   “It is important to note that the carriers are only accepting shipments from Indirect Air Carriers, that is, shippers who have been documented and approved as known shippers,” Danzas AEI said.
   Danzas AEI reported the backlogs of shipments destined for the United States at many international locations are being “significantly reduced,” as are outbound shipments from our major U.S. gateways.
   “It appears at this time that importers and exporters can expect to see the current situation normalizing to at least some extent over the week,” the forwarder said.
   In other matters, the FAA said today that on Sept. 19, the FAA is recruiting Federal Air Marshals, and that the job listing will be available on their Web site, https://www.jobs.faa.gov .