Airlines taking advantage of delays.

Are airlines taking advantage of the current backlogs by increasing rates or causing further problems and distrust between the airline / forwarder and shipper. 

With the lifting of the aviation ban in UK airspace and across most of Europe cargo is starting to get back to normal.  Airlines are reporting that already large swathes of the cargo held in sheds has begun to move and that almost all of it is pre-allocated space over the next few days.  It seems though that some airlines are looking to recover their losses by taking advantage of the situation and looking for above market rates in the short term. 

 
Today we have found a huge differential in rates with some airlines accepting bookings at Tariff, other looking for their premium service charges and even some requesting full IATA rates to move cargo.  The UK is a spot rate market and has been for many years and it is refreshing to see airlines managing to attract general cargo at tariff rates and on the equation or prioritise type services.  Offering premium rate services is understandable when space is tight and when shipments just have to be there then they offer a little extra security. 

There is a question though over airlines, and the trend seemed to be Far Eastern carriers requesting full IATA rates for general cargo.  Will these short term gains benefit those airlines in the long term when the market recovers. 

 I have purposefully left out naming any airlines which we called today and market forces will dictate whether any lasting damage has been done by the crisis caused by the volcanic ash, and by opportune airlines taking advantage of shippers on the back of it.