In the post there is a link to an article from a Drewry analyst about the possibility that more firms will make close relationships with their terminal operators.
If ocean lines and terminal operators consolidate, this would have the effect of improving coordination between that line and the terminal, but would disrupt coordination with other lines. It’s as if American Airlines and O’Hare airport in Chicago made a deal that there would be preferential loading and unloading there for American flights. Easy to pick up or unload passengers, get baggage, priority for landing and takeoff slots, de-icing (I was just there!), lines for tickets, baggage checking, TSA clearance, and so on. It would be good for American passengers and cargo, presumably (Perhaps American would drop the unpleasant $25 fee for domestic checked bags!)
So coordination of all air traffic and passenger or cargo handling for the other airlines would be disrupted. Delays would occur. Any issues that appeared would take longer to settle. And it would take me longer to get in and out of the airport.
Would it make me choose American if I had to go to O’Hare? Just maybe– but rather unlikely that it alone would be enough to sway me. After all, someone else might still be cheaper.
Coordination has to be horizontal in logistics to be truly better for all customers.
Supply Chain and Logistics 