75 Years of the IATA-UPU Contact Committee and 80 Years of IATA

 

This year marks a significant milestone in the history of international postal and aviation collaboration as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the creation of the IATA-UPU Contact Committee and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The Story began

 

Until 1949, postal administrations using airplanes to transport mail maintained bilateral service relations with airlines. Recognizing the need for a more standardized collaboration, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) requested IATA to address its needs at IATA’s 5th Annual Conference. In September 1949, the Chair of the Executive and Liaison Committee presented the needs of the postal sector during this conference, laying the groundwork for future cooperation.

In May 1950, the UPU’s Executive and Liaison Committee met in Montreux, Switzerland, where the Nordic countries’ postal administrations proposed the need for standardized relations with IATA. This led to the decision on 17th May 1950, to organize a joint IATA-UPU meeting in January 1951.

The 1st joint meeting took place in Cairo, Egypt, in January 1951. The Egyptian representative's invitation to host the meeting in Cairo was warmly welcomed and accepted. The IATA observer expressed full support for the joint conference, emphasizing the geographic advantages of Cairo and assuring participants of IATA’s full cooperation.

A Legacy of Collaboration

 

75 years later, the IATA-UPU Contact Committee continues to foster a fruitful partnership between postal administrations and the aviation industry. This collaboration has been instrumental in standardizing and improving the transportation of mail by air, benefiting both sectors and their customers worldwide. Every year, there will be two IATA-UPU Contact Committee meetings. One is hosted by IATA, associated with the IATA World Cargo Symposium in the beginning of the year. The other meeting hosted by UPU in the UPU Headquarters Office in Bern, Switzerland closer to the end of the year.

Looking Ahead

 

As we celebrate these milestones, we extend our gratitude to UPU and all participants for their unwavering support and cooperation over the years. We look forward to continuing this successful partnership and further enhancing our collaborative efforts in the years to come.