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COVID-19 Resources

Industry-Related Updates & Resources

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) global pandemic continues to spread and cause disruptions to many Airforwarders Association members and their families. We are working to provide as much information about news and resources available to members to use as we navigate through this challenging situation.

In addition to keeping members informed, AfA is working with lawmakers on Capitol Hill and the White House in asking for financial assistance for our members through possible cash disbursements, payroll tax relief, income tax deferrals and relaxation of government-mandated deadlines. We hope that the resources on this page provide information and guidance to our members during this time of crisis.

We are receiving significant feedback from our members and encourage more so please let us know how the coronavirus situation is affecting your company.  In the meanwhile, we will continue to monitor the situation and report significant developments to you.

AfA urges Washington lawmakers to provide additional financial relief to the freight forwarding community

Airfreight forwarders are essential for getting America back to business

Related Video Message from AfA Executive Director Brandon Fried:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The recently passed CARES Act and its Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is a good start, but the Airforwarders Association believes that lawmakers in Washington need to do more to help the freight forwarding community. 

There is a sense that the PPP will soon run out of money, leaving many of our members without the financial help they need. We therefore believe that now is the time for Congress to not only supplement the original funding but add additional provisions that assist freight forwarders and our industry cartage partners as well.

This week, the AfA has been lobbying lawmakers on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to include our industry in a possible supplemental legislative funding initiative. 

As you may imagine, lawmakers are receiving a significant amount of correspondence and only wish to hear from their constituents now. As a member of the AfA, you can help us by sending a message to your Representative or Senator who may be on one of the Appropriations committees and asking them to include forwarders in the next round of funding. 

To make things easy, we have written a simple, one-page explanation of our talking points and a funding request demonstrating our value not only to the supply chain but as an important part of the recovery ahead.

Download a pdf here.

We appreciate your support and willingness to help tell Washington that forwarders are essential in getting America back to business!

 


 

AfA Statement to The White House and U.S. Congress

Executive Director Brandon Fried lays out specific steps to take through legislation, regulation and policy suggestions.

Washington, DC - March 23, 2020

On behalf of the membership of the Airforwarders Association which represents stakeholders across the air cargo supply chain, Executive Director Brandon Fried has provided a list of written suggestions critical to the survival of the air cargo industry. This letter has been delivered the White House, Majority and minority leadership in the House and Senate and the respective Committee chairs and ranking members with jurisdiction over the industry.

The AfA recommends the following:

  • Domestic travel must not be interrupted or suspended and international services must be restored as soon as possible.
  • "Shelter in place" orders by cities and states must not shutter freight forwarders, warehouses and truckers.
  • Financial relief should include access to low-interest loans, working capital and delayed or deferred government-mandated deadlines.
  • Urge airlines to consider scheduled freight-only flight operations to ensure an adequate supply of affordable air cargo for shippers.

In the letter, Fried reminds legislators and the White House, "Our members are freight forwarders who play a vital role in the nation's commerce, moving essential shipments such as medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, fresh food and manufactured goods by air and by truck day and night. We utilize the domestic and foreign passenger airlines and trucking systems as our primary means of transportation."

Financial support is critical because forwarders are primarily a pass-through business with finances, receiving payment from shippers and remitting funds to the asset-owning companies who operate planes, trucks and warehouses.

"While some of our members are large, global companies, most are small to medium sized enterprises, independently owned and operated and in need of the financial support that Congress must act upon immediately. Freight forwarders collect money from shippers and remit to underlying service providers such as airlines, express carriers, truckers, warehouses and other companies within the supply chain. Their position as an industry which passes through the majority of the funds they receive places them in a position of extraordinary exposure to payments which decrease or are not made."

Download the statement here.

COVID-19 AIRMAILS

Following are the COVID-19 related AfA member AIRMAILS distributed since March 3. If you are not receiving our member AIRMAILS in your inbox, please email Ann Crampton or call AfA headquarters at 202-577-9536.

 

U.S. Government Issues Malicious Cyber Warning (August 13, 2020)

AfA Endorses US, EU Airlines Push to Resume Joint Testing Program to Resume Travel (July 21, 2020)

TSA Makes Interim COVID Known Shipper Protocol Changes (July 20, 2020)

Revised PPP Loan Application Released (June 18 2020)

A4A Develops Guidance on Loading Cargo Into Aircraft Cabins (June 11, 2020)

Get the Ultimate Resource: Air Forwarding COVID-19 Action Guide (June 2, 2020)

Urgent Action Needed: Contact Your Representative About PPP (May 27, 2020)

AfA Joins Effort Opposing PPP Taxability (May 22, 2020)

Week 7: Financial Relief Package Survey (May 5, 2020)

IATA Offers Guidance; SBA Offers Resources (May 1, 2020)

Demurrage & Detention Rule (April 28, 2020)

CBP amends FAQ document (April 27, 2020)

Changes to PPE Export Rules (April 26, 2020)

House Passes Additional Financial Relief (April 23, 2020)

FAQs CBP 90 day duty exemption/AfA Online Training (April 23, 2020)

CBP 90-day duty exemption (April 20, 2020)

FEMA issues PPE exemption (April 19, 2020)

AfA Exec Director calls on members to contact White House, Congress for renewed PPP funding (April 17, 2020)

Top News: PPE exports; TSA Emergency Amendments (April 17, 2020)

Call for additional support for airforwarders (April 16, 2020)

AfA urges FAA to allow cargo in passenger cabins (April 16, 2020)

Reflecting on lessons learned from the COVID-19 crisis (April 15, 2020)

AfA Urges Lawmakers to Assist Forwarders (April 15, 2020)

Top News: TWIC extension, Chinese Customs, COVID-19 resources and more (April 14, 2020)

Top News: CBP PPE memo (April 10, 2020)

Financial Relief Package Survey (April 9, 2020)

Top News: The latest from FEMA, CBP, DHS, plus continuing education and DFW newsletter (April 8, 2020)

Top News: Benesch supply chain webinar/Save the Date - CBP Trade Symposium (April 6, 2020)

Top News: Financial Relief Quick Reference Guide/SBA Loan app/China PPE Quality Assuance (April 2, 2020)

Top News: From CBP, SBA and US Chamber of Commerce (April 1, 2020)

Regulatory Compliance Committee Meeting Minutes/COVID-19 Resources/Link to 2nd Survey (April 1, 2020)

How are you feeling now? Second AfA Coronavirus Impact Survey (March 30, 2020)

AfA response to passage of $2.2 trillion COVID CARES Act  (March 27, 2020)

Security & DG Guidance for Forwarders Using Passenger Jet All-Cargo Flights (March 25, 2020)

Lawmakers Reach Compromise on Aid Package; Airline Cargo-Only Flight Update (March 25, 2020)

Best Practices for Freight Forwarders: Mitigate Losses Due to COVID-19 (March 24, 2020)

AfA Appeals to Congress and the White House for Coronavirus Assistance (March 23, 2020)

March 20 AfA Member Update: Shelter In Place Orders Imposed; Travel Ban on Northern & Southern Borders (March 20, 2020)

Reminder: How is the Coronavirus Situation Impacting Your Company? (March 20, 2020)

CBP Hosts Association Call on Another Virus Impact to Trade & Cargo (March 19, 2020)

SBA Responds to AfA Financial Resource Inquiry (March 18, 2020)

Coronavirus Situation Impact Survey Reminder & Other Topics (March 17, 2020)

How is the Coronavirus Situation Impacting Your Company? (March 16, 2020)

CBP Hosts Association Call on Virus Impact to Trade & Cargo (March 13, 2020)

Thursday Update on Presidential Proclamation (March 12, 2020)

Update on Presidential Proclamation on Passenger Travel Suspension (March 11, 2020)

Flights from Europe to the U.S. Suspended for 30 Days beginning Friday (March 11, 2020)

IATA Releases January Air Cargo Market Analysis (March 4, 2020)

COVID-19: Health & Legal Issues for AfA Members to Consider (March 3, 2020)

Additional Resources

AfA In the News

Link to Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

New York State Economic Industry Disaster Loan (EIDL) FAQs

Nonprofits and COVID-19

Treasury Department's PPP information sheet for borrowers

Treasury Department's PPP information sheet for lenders

SBA and Treasury Department initial guidance on PPP

SBA COVID-19 Response additional information

SBA Economic Industry Disaster Loan Application

SBA Small Business Loan Guidance

Banks May Sit Out Rescue Plan (Reuters, April 1)

Update from the US Chamber of Commerce (March 27)

Statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Chad Wolf on extending the REAL ID enforcement deadline by one year due to COVID-19. The new enforcement deadline is October 21, 2021. Click here to view all of DHS’s recent statements related to coronavirus response (March 26)

FEMA Transportion Programs Information: FEMA TSA Agreement; FEMA Tender of Service Program

IATA: Latest announcements from airlines on COVID-19 (March 25)

Best Practices for Freight Forwarders: Mitigate Losses Due to COVID-19 (Roanoke Trade, March 23)

SBA Responds to AfA Member Financial Assistance Inquiry (March 19)