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Couriers vital to UK economy, says report

[ January 19, 2024   //   ]

UK firms are highly dependent upon fast and reliable international express courier services according to a report by airport consultancy York Aviation.

Over 250 companies responded to the survey, commissioned by the Association of International Courier and Express Services (AICES), which also suggests that half of all respondents will increase their use of express services.

The report added that there would be ‘real and long-term damage’ to the UK economy if express capacity was reduced.

Heathrow on-airport express courier service, CFL, says it endorses the report and cites its own experience in the run up to Christmas, when import volumes were up by nearly one third compared to the previous year with India a growing source of express imports.

CFL was formed 40 years ago and is owned by some of the best-known names in the business, including FedEx, DHL, Skynet and Virgin, and operates the UKs only dedicated multi-user express handling facility.

The growth of the on-board courier product, which allowed unaccompanied packages to travel in the hold as unaccompanied luggage, had led to huge pressure on the passenger terminals. As a result, Heathrow looked to move the courier product out of passenger terminals and the industry created CFL to manage this.

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