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for U.S. fishermen is moving live lobsters across 8,000 miles in less than 24 hours. For this kind of logistics challenge, the only solution is air cargo. American Airlines Cargo works with shippers and forwarders in Florida to move live lobsters to Shanghai via Los Angeles. Air cargo's greatest advantages—speed and efficiency—are critical to ensuring the lobsters are kept viable throughout their international journey. Lobsters cannot survive for long outside of water, and for international logistics, the clock starts as soon as the live crustaceans are removed from their holding tanks. After packing them in seaweed and a small amount of dry ice within an insulated Styrofoam container, the shipper works with their forwarder to quickly drive the lobsters to the airport. There, a waiting air cargo operations team completes the necessary screening and customs forms before ushering the shipment onto the plane. While a fast moving supply chain requires a precise handoff from the forwarder to carrier—as well as a jet aircraft traveling about 600 mph—the real key to ensuring live lobsters reach their destination in perfect condition is a brief transfer time. In Los Angeles, American's operations teams are waiting Photo © iStockphoto/Thinkstock to quickly remove the lobster shipment from one plane and onto another. Doing this in less than two hours takes a lot of planning, much of it before the lobster season even begins. Pre-season planning is important for all cargo commodities. However, when dealing with delicate, high value seafood, there is no room for error or guesswork. From setting aside the appropriate capacity to coordinating flight times and working with customers, American has detailed plans in place before lobsters ever leave the water. This pre-planning is what keeps lobster shipments moving without delay, and the Los Angeles teams receive daily alerts on when to expect the next shipment so they are prepared to execute a quick connection when the plane arrives. Logistics is often the unsung hero of international commerce. Consumers rarely see or even know that without air cargo, the products they enjoy would be far more difficult—if not impossible— to access. Air cargo plays a critical role in helping the growing Chinese middle class satisfy their consumer appetite, but logistics is also critical for business and economic growth. The seafood shippers in Florida and around the world could not capitalize on the globalized marketplace without the fast, dedicated and coordinated work of air cargo logistics. Because of air cargo's unique role in fostering global trade, the industry serves as a thermometer on international economic performance. There remain many challenges for economic success, but through air cargo, businesses in the United States and consumers in China are enjoying the luxury of lobsters. Leandro Moreira is a regional sales manager for American Airlines Cargo. He is responsible for managing cargo sales in the southeast region of the U.S. and is based in Miami. www.foodlogistics.com FOOD LOGISTICS • OCTOBER 2013 31