Accelerate modernisation in air cargo
The 11th World Cargo Symposium 2017 opened on a positive note in Abu Dhabi. The symposium highlighted a thoughtful optimism on delivering quality service while enabling modern technique in the air cargo industry.
After several years of virtually no growth, the industry is starting to see demand pick up. Freight volumes began to grow in the second half of 2016. And the momentum is carrying over into this year with the demand rising nearly seven per cent in January. Alexandre de Juniac, Director General and CEO, IATA, shares a clear vision of how the aviation sector is elevating the national economy strategically. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on the air cargo industry to accelerate modernisation and focus on delivering high quality service. Juniac focused on two key areas for industry transformation; one on simple modern electronic processes; the industry has been pursuing a digital process transformation known as e-freight for over a decade. A key element of e-freight is the market adoption of the E-Airway Bill. Global penetration has nearly reached 50 per cent and the industry is targeting 62 per cent by year-end on enabled trade lanes. Secondly, high quality services; two of the fastest growing and most profitable parts of the business are focused on meeting specific customer needs. These are e-commerce as well as time and temperature sensitive cargo.
Frederic Leger, IATA’s Director Airport – Passenger, Cargo, Security and Products, stated, “Our main aim of this conference is to introduce new innovation to improve efficiency in air cargo and bring it to the next century. CIEV Pharma is a new programme introduced to improve compliance and best practices.” On dangerous goods, Leger says, “In a joint letter to governments in the world’s largest lithium battery manufacturing and export countries, a number of global associations including IATA, PRBA, the US Rechargeable Battery Association, RECHARGE, among more, called for significant fines and custodial sentences to be imposed on those who circumvent the regulations. To further eliminate the safety risk in shipping lithiumion batteries the industry is working on developing a new set of standards regarding packaging material designed to contain a lithium battery event fire. Defining the performance and testing of boxes to safety are nearing completion.”
Global penetration has nearly reached 50 per cent and the industry is targeting 62 per cent by yearend on enabled trade lanes IATA CEIV Pharma is a new programme which is introduced to improve compliance and best practices