Air shipping plugs businesses, residents into global economy
20 March 2017
- What do many shoppers and businesses in Central Vancouver Island have in common?They depend on Nanaimo Airport.
It’s one of the Island’s busiest shipping hubs. Millions of dollars worth of products — from auto parts to electronics to Christmas gifts — are air freighted through the airport annually. Its cargo bays support everything from online shopping to business supply chains.
Five couriers ship through the airport: Dynamex, FedEx, Loomis, Purolator and UPS. And business is booming. FedEx and UPS have both opened local offices to deal with the growing demand.
The products they transport touch many aspects of central Island life.
Shoppers in local stores can browse merchandise flown in from around the globe. Online shoppers can count on fast delivery of their orders. And business owners can fly in the supplies they need, as well as send their products anywhere in the world. For many small and mid-sized companies in the area, it means they can afford to participate in international trade.
Air cargo, in fact, is a trade facilitator that plugs Central Islanders into the global economy. It creates local jobs. It also helps businesses here improve the efficiency of their supply chains. Many firms, for example, use air transport to shorten delivery times and reduce costs. For time-sensitive shipments, air freight is their main option.
Businesses and shoppers rely on Nanaimo Airport for shipping for others reasons too.
First, the airport’s 98 percent reliability rating means flights take off and land as planned despite uncertain weather conditions. That dependability frees shippers to concentrate on prompt delivery of their goods.
And second, users can count on safety of their goods, thanks to the airport’s tight security controls.