The Airports Council International (ACI) has released a guide on how airports may leverage cargo to generate more revenue.

According to ACI's Developing Cargo at Airports guide — which was created in collaboration with Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO) and InterVISTAS — as airports recover from the pandemic and seek to diversify their revenue streams in order to ensure long-term financial viability, cargo is an important area to investigate.

The guide notes the importance of analyzing current data, such as market trends, stakeholder perspectives, and cargo demand and supply, building a clear cargo vision and cargo master plan, and assuring the capabilities and infrastructure that will provide long-term benefits.

“The intention of the guidance is to enable airports that are not currently tapping into the potential of cargo to better understand and identify opportunities and help those airports that currently have extensive cargo operations with the re-formulation of their cargo strategy where needed,” ACI said in a statement.

ACI World director general Luis Felipe de Oliveira said “a clear cargo strategy will help further airports’ understanding of the current landscape and opportunities, as well as build a robust business plan for the future.”

“Cargo continues to be critical to global recovery through the supply of goods – such as medicine, medical equipment, and most recently, vaccines – and playing a key role in supporting the communities we serve,” de Oliveira added.