The Airway Tide in Transportation

Abstract

A break-through in air freight is here through use of more efficient cargo planes which will bring air costs near surface-carrier costs by 1965 and directly competitive by 1970. By that time, air cargo will swell to 4.5 billion ton-miles, a sevenfold increase over 1960 figures. Our increasing gross national product guarantees continuing demand for air cargo. Possibility of air carriage of all surface mail at costs competitive with surface costs is part of air cargo's bright future. Emerging nations, with planes as tools, can move directly onto the world's commercial pathways. Planes will continue to increase in value as economic and sociological tools in the world political struggle. The United States should preferably develop better short-haul passenger and freight planes; better cargo-handling containers and packaging; and a combination passenger-cargo plane rather than the costly Mach 3 transport, a "prestige" item due to cost the taxpayer as much as $600 million. Surface passenger and freight media face troubles and rising costs, whereas air-cargo firms envision lowering costs with better planes.