Virus calls for vigilance
We last spoke to Massimo Roccasecca when Covid-19 was just landing in Italy (see page 21 of ITJ 11-12 / 2020). Now we present the freight head’s exclusive report on the dynamic since then in Italy and in his group, which manages the airports in Venice, Verona, Treviso and Brescia.
Aviation is currently experiencing true disruption. The effects on the four airports that form part of the Save Group are varied. Treviso (TSF) and Verona (VRN) have been closed in accordance with governmental instructions; they are only allowed to handle charter flights related to the emergency. Thus a humanitarian flight with medicine and other aid from Albania on board landed at VRN early in April.
The Venice hub (VCE), categorised as a strategic airport of national interest, has remained open; volumes have naturally fallen considerably, however.
Critical – but not hopeless
The situation is a bit different in Brescia (VBS), where passenger operations have been terminated. In principle, the hub has continued its normal cargo and mail activities, however.
Massimo Roccasecca told the ITJ that “as VBS is the Poste Italiane air network hub, these activities have continued without interruption. Naturally we had to quickly adapt to new safety measures. My group moved ahead of time, though; our staff wore the proper protective equipment even before the government ordained it.” In terms of business this is “a critical moment,” the manager says, but he’s “confident that we’ll come out of it.”
Roccasecca believes that the already sensitive situation has been exacerbated by some links in the supply chain – be it airlines, charter brokers, capacity providers or forwarders. “I’d like to appeal to our fellow partners in the industry and say that this isn’t the moment to speculate. We’ve already witnessed a tremendous spike in prices for air transport. I think this behaviour isn’t best, giving the emergency situation we’re in.”
Keep food on the supermarket shelves
Roccasecca also addresses public authorities, pointing out that a critical moment such as this one makes the crucial role that cargo transport and logistics play absolutely clear. “We’re the ones that keep food on the supermarket shelves, provide the parts for factories producing medical equipment and deliver the same to hospitals.” Roccasecca hopes that the authorities and the government will remember this when things return to normal again in the future.
Roccasecca has an opinion concerning the medium-term future – “even though I’m no medical expert! Even if we return to normality soon – which I don’t believe; I expect the wave to last until June or July – 2020 will end up as a black year for the economy in general and for air transport in particular.”
For people in the logistics industry – or the public at large – who maybe don’t take the situation seriously, Roccasecca has this message. “Don’t underestimate the virus. It’s a nasty one. Be aware, be safe and most importantly – be an active part of efforts to defeat it.”
