Suspended skies force air cargo back to the ground

TORONTO (Sept. 12, 2001) — The unprecedented shutdown of North American skies after the apparent terrorist attack on New York City and Washington, D.C., have left small-package delivery companies scrambling to shift airfreight parcels back to the ground.

Major courier companies, which are based on a two-fold operation involving both ground and air, are moving goods by truck where possible as civil air travel in Canada and the United States was suspended for a second day.

“Our domestic flights will resume once Canadian airports are reopened,” said Ed Borkowskr, public relations manager for Purolator Courier Canada. “We’re advising customers to expect delays for all U.S. and international flight shipments. Those operations will resume when the flight ban is lifted here and in the U.S.”

Borkowskr added that guaranteed delivery times are also suspended, especially in the Toronto area, because many government offices and major businesses such as banks either closed yesterday or stopped accepting packages.

Meantime, the courier companies are shifting whatever they can on to the roads. “The packages that are moving domestically right now are via the ground,” said UPS public relations manager Susan Webb. “There has now been some movement over the border by the ground. But there are some delays being experienced.”

Yesterday’s calls for more security at all border points has caused most carriers to expect some form of policy or procedural changes at the border, which may result in longer clearance times and lineups. Both Webb and Borkowskr said they anticipate such changes whatever they may be, and assure that both companies are equipped to handle the potential delays that may result.