At the opening of the IATA World Cargo Symposium (WCS) in Lima, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) identified digitalization, global standards, and safety as the three critical pillars necessary for the air cargo industry to navigate an increasingly volatile global trade environment.
Amidst geopolitical shifts and evolving tariff structures, Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s Global Head of Cargo, emphasized the industry’s need to fortify the elements within its control to ensure the seamless movement of global supply chains.
“Working together to strengthen digitalization, global standards, and supply chain security will position air cargo well to continue supporting economic growth by connecting products to markets,” said Sullivan.
The industry is moving away from fragmented, legacy systems that cause delays and compliance risks. As of January 2026, ONE Record has become the preferred standard for end-to-end data sharing. While airlines representing over 70% of global air waybill volumes are on track for implementation, IATA is calling for:
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Wider Adoption: Increased scaling by both airlines and freight forwarders.
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Regulatory Support: Government acceptance of ONE Record data for official filings.
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Tech Integration: Enhanced deployment of interoperable platforms by technology providers.
To maintain border efficiency, IATA is addressing two primary bottlenecks:
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Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR): With over 1,200 variations in state and operator handling rules, IATA urges for transparency and closer alignment with global standards to reduce operational complexity.
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Airport Slot Allocation: Cargo carriers at major hubs like Heathrow, Dubai, and Bogotá often face temporary “ad hoc” slots. IATA is advocating for fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory access based on the Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines.
As risks evolve, particularly regarding e-commerce and lithium batteries, IATA is pushing for the modernization of safety frameworks:
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ICAO Annex 18 Updates: Modernizing regulations to address undeclared dangerous goods.
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Digital Security Tools: IATA is calling for the universal adoption of the electronic Consignment Security Declaration (e-CSD) to replace manual processes and improve data accuracy across jurisdictions.
