​IATA's Preloading Advance Cargo Information (PLACI) Guidelines provides harmonized and standardized procedures for advance cargo information filing in a unique, comprehensive manual. It enables users to improve procedural efficiency and empowers their compliance with the preloading advance cargo information regulatory requirements applicable in the United States, Europe, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and Canada.

Why use the PLACI manual?

The benefits of IATA's Preloading Advance Cargo Information Guidelines include:

  • Alignment with regulatory requirements, such as US Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS), Canada Pre-Load Air Cargo Targeting (PACT), EU Pre-Loading Advance air Cargo Information (ICS2 PLACI) and UK Pre-Load Data Informed Targeting (also known as UK PreDICT), as well as future other PLACI initiatives worldwide
  • Avoiding non-compliance issues with regulators and supply chain partners that could result in substantial penalties and severe delays in shipment times
  • Having harmonized and standardized PLACI procedures in one user-friendly document

Relying on IATA's Preloading Advance Cargo Information Guidelines will assist:

  • Airlines by enhancing customer service through improved efficiency and shipment timings as well as by providing a single PLACI reference point for multiple regulatory regimes and supply chain partners
  • Freight Forwarders by providing a means to deal with a multifaceted, multi-layered air cargo supply chain in a consistent manner and, also, by clarifying PLACI-related rules and processes
  • Customs Authorities by promoting the mutual recognition of procedures and by facilitating training based on industry-agreed standards
  • Ground Handlers by establishing their responsibilities and obligations with well-documented procedures and by allowing them to better manage their resources based on advance information
  • IT and Security by encouraging the promotion of standards to keep the air cargo supply chain secure and by providing a user-friendly way to assess existing initiatives and plan future upgrades

Still not sure if the PLACI is for you? Download the full table of contents.

Stay up-to-date 

Significant Changes and Amendments to the 7th edition (2026) of the IATA Preloading Advance Cargo Information (PLACI) include:

  • Carrier-specific PLACI requirements now centralized: To meet PLACI regulatory requirements across different jurisdictions, carriers are implementing their own business requirements — such as mandatory HS Codes, specific cut-off timeframe, request for relevant House Waybill details, etc. The requirements from 17 carriers are now published in a new Section 15 of the PLACI Manual, offering the industry a centralized and up-to-date reference to support accurate compliance and streamlined operations, including for interlining purposes.
  • Synthetic overview of existing PLACI programs: To support the industry in navigating and complying with the diverse PLACI program requirements, a summary table has been developed and integrated into a revised Section 12. It highlights key similarities and differences —such as data requirements, referrals  — across the existing PLACI programs. This overview enables stakeholders to quickly grasp program-specific expectations, driving smoother implementation and improved compliance.
  • Refinement of the PACT Implementation Guide: CA-PACT has refined its Technical Implementation Guide to clarify the use of acknowledgement messages, remove confusing error messages (e.g. “invalid timing”) and improve the PACT Targeting Process Flow. The Toolbox in this PLACI Manual now includes this latest (1.9) version of the PACT Technical Implementation Guide.
  • Updated section on current PLACI programs: The latest updates on PLACI deployment in CA and UAE, which have both enforced PLACI since the previous PLACI Manual edition, can be found in the updated Section 12 in this new Manual edition.
  • Updated Section 13 on PLACI referrals: to take into account the full deployment of CA-PACT, the table in the updated Section 13 now incorporates the PACT referrals.