IATA and FIATA to Launch New Air Cargo Programme; Canada the Pilot Country

IATA has signed an agreement with the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) to replace the existing IATA Cargo Agency Programme with the IATA-FIATA Air Cargo Programme (IFACP).

Over the decades that the IATA Cargo Agency Programme has operated, IATA Cargo Agents (freight forwarders) have evolved from being “selling-agents” for airlines to being their “purchasing-customers”. In consideration of this evolution, in 2012 IATA and FIATA joined forces to review, refine and re-engineer the existing Agency Programme.

The new Programme moves decision-making on the rules governing the airline-forwarder relationship away from an airline-led conference to a governance body - the IATA-FIATA Governance Board (IFGB) - jointly managed by forwarders and airlines, which reflects today’s market conditions.

“IATA and FIATA have reached an important agreement on a new jointly-managed air cargo Programme,” said Aleks Popovich, IATA, Senior Vice President, Financial and Distribution Services. “This is the result of four years of hard work to modernize the relationship between freight forwarders and airlines. The IFACP also provides a framework to ensure that industry standards are relevant, pragmatic and fit for purpose. These standards cover the endorsement of freight forwarders and more broadly the safe, secure and efficient transportation of air cargo shipments.”

The phased rollout of IFACP will begin in early 2017 with Canada as the pilot country. It is anticipated that full global rollout will be completed by end of 2018.

The public signature with the common endorsement of the agreement will take place at the October FIATA World Congress which will be held in Dublin, Ireland.

Mr. Rudi Sagel, Chairman of FIATA’s Airfreight Institute (AFI), said, “The Cargo Agency Programme has long needed updating. I am really pleased that FIATA and IATA have joined forces to provide our industry with a new, modern Programme and a framework for operation that benefits both airlines and freight forwarders. IFACP will eliminate unnecessary administrative procedures and costs as well as free up valuable resources to tackle the complex challenges that today’s global trade presents. These include regulatory compliance, safety and security and the introduction of new technologies. This agreement paves the way for a more successful future for the fastest and most fascinating mode of international transport.”

Q&A

1. What are the benefits of the new IATA-FIATA Air Cargo Programme (IFACP)?

The structure of the new agreement better reflects the new business models and the buyer-seller relationship that exists today between forwarders and airlines. With the establishment of a global IATA-FIATA Governance Board (IFGB), the industry will be better equipped to achieve key goals including: e-cargo priorities of greater efficiency and shared values, clarification of supply chain liability, improved compliance with safety and security standards through a more coordinated and concerted industry approach.

The IFGB governance structure will reduce the administrative burden in managing the Programme as it includes the involvement of forwarders as equal partners in the decision making process which now correctly reflects the Principal-to-Principal relationship existing today between Freight Forwarders and Airlines.

2. What is the impact on the current IATA Cargo Agents?

There is no immediate impact on the current IATA Cargo Agents as the current participants of the IATA Cargo Agency/ Intermediary Programme will be provided with a new IATA-FIATA Air Cargo Programme Agreement when the Programme implementation process begins in their country. Upon execution and receipt of the completed Agreement, the Endorsed Freight Forwarder will join the new Programme. No further assessment will be required. New entrants shall be granted access to the IFACP in accordance with the Programme's rules, which are designed to be more reflective of how the air cargo business functions in today’s market. It is anticipated this process will be completed by end of 2018.

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