Cargo Operations Advisory Group (COAG)

Reporting jointly to the IATA Cargo Committee and the Ground Handling Council, the Cargo Operations Advisory Group (COAG) has been established to bring together members from airlines and ground handling agents to develop best-practice processes and procedures to address all aspect of cargo acceptance and handling.

The COAG aims to work on the review, improvement and development of cargo operations processes and procedures for incorporation into the IATA Airport Handling Manual (AHM) and IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM). The objective being to develop operations processes that can be adopted by airlines and ground handling agents and that will ultimately lead to a greater degree of standardization and harmonization for cargo acceptance and handling.

COAG Terms of Reference (pdf)

Benefits of group findings

Having a higher level of harmonization and standardization will help both airlines and ground handling agents to simplify training requirements for cargo handling and should lead to cost savings and potentially improved safety for all parties.

Meeting Schedule

Meetings are conducted by regular teleconferences. Face-to-face meetings will be held when required.

Membership

The COAG consists of not more than 14 members (8 Airline members and 6 GHA members), each being an expert in cargo operations, Cargo EDI messaging standards, mail operations, as applicable.

Current COAG membership

Airlines:

• Air Canada
• Air France
• Cargolux
• Emirates
• FedEx
• Finnair
• LAN Cargo
• Qatar Airways

Ground Handling Agents

• DAL Global Services
• DNATA
• Fraport Cargo Services
• Menzies Aviation
• Swissport
• WFS

Contact

• Secretary
  David Brennan
  Assistant Director Cargo Safety & Standards, IATA