Kuala Lumpur – The sixth World Cargo Symposium has concluded with a call to action by Heads of Cargo from the world’s biggest airlines. The IATA Cargo Committee, comprising 15 international carriers, has put renewed focus on the delivery of key programs such as Secure Freight, and e-freight, to tackle the challenges facing air cargo.

The IATA Cargo Committee confirmed its commitment to pursuing an agenda for improvements across the cargo industry supply chain, by deepening cooperative industry and regulatory relations, encouraging a quality standard benchmark, increasing safety vigilance, driving a paperless cargo future, and promoting the value of air cargo. In line with this, the Cargo Committee agreed to the following:

  • Inviting the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) to future Committee meetings to discuss issues of mutual concern
  • Endorsement of the Cargo Agency modernization project recognizing the key role played by freight forwarders
  • Making the Cargo 2000 Master Operating Plan an open-source global quality benchmark
  • Investigate a data exchange programme for members to record dangerous goods incidents, to encourage greater safety vigilance
  • Achieving the 100% e-Air Waybill (e-AWB) adoption target by 2014
  • Urge civil aviation authorities to establish stakeholder programs similar to those established in Singapore, Hong Kong and Amsterdam, to accelerate e-freight adoption
  • Pursue with regulators a harmonized security framework that is mutually recognized across all states

The World Cargo Symposium gathered nearly 1000 delegates in Kuala Lumpur for three days of intense debate on the key issues facing air cargo in 2012 and beyond.

“The theme of our Symposium was ‘partnership at work’ and we are committed to acting together not only as a united air cargo sector, but across the supply chain with our Freight Forwarder and Shipper partners. This week has seen the firm establishment of the Global Air Cargo Advisory Group (GACAG) as the single voice of industry on regulatory and sustainability issues. We have also established even stronger links with key regulators such as the US Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection, the European Union, World Customs Organization and ICAO,” said Des Vertannes, IATA’s Global Head of Cargo.

It was also announced that Ram Menen (Divisional SVP Emirates Cargo) has completed his term as Chairman of the Cargo Committee. The new chairman is Steve Gunning, managing director of IAG Cargo. Gunning has served on the Cargo Committee since 2007 and brings 14 years of industry experience to this important role.

For more information, please contact:

Corporate Communications
Tel: +41 22 770 2967
Email: corpcomms@iata.org


Notes for Editors:

  • IATA (International Air Transport Association) represents some 240 airlines comprising 84% of global air traffic.
  • More information on IATA’s cargo activities at www.iata.org/cargo
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