16. Impact of COVID-19 on Air Cargo Transportation in Turkey

Despite being the newest mode of transportation, air cargo has become one of the fastest-growing industries due to the social and economic benefits it provides. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of the pandemic on the Turkish Air Cargo Transportation sector. The present study involved an analysis of data obtained from reports released by the civil aviation authority in Turkey. Furthermore, the collection of data on alterations in freight patterns during the pandemic was facilitated by means of semi-structured interviews conducted with managers and experts affiliated with four air cargo businesses operating within the geographical boundaries of Turkey. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an observed correlation between the transportation of medical equipment and vaccines and the rise in air cargo traffic in Turkey. This increase in traffic has resulted in a corresponding expansion of cargo tonnage capacity among firms, which may be attributed to the growing number of aircraft involved in these operations. In summary, it is noteworthy that air cargo companies experienced a notable surge in both the quantity of aircraft utilized and the volume of cargo transported during the COVID-19 pandemic, which stands in contrast to the trends observed in passenger transportation.