Air cargo industry urged to digitise as global supply chains face pressure

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) this week highlighted three priorities for the global air cargo industry: accelerating digitalisation, strengthening global standards, and enhancing safety and security.

The call came at the opening of the IATA World Cargo Symposium in Lima, Peru, where the group said the industry must build resilience in areas it can control as supply chains face mounting pressure from tariffs and geopolitical disruption.

Commenting on the outlook, IATA’s global head of cargo Brendan Sullivan said that “air cargo plays a critical role in connecting businesses to global markets and keeping supply chains moving”, even as the operating environment becomes more complex.

He added that, with external shocks continuing to affect global supply chains, it is important to focus on strengthening resilience in areas the industry can influence.

In that context, he said that “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”.

On digitalisation, Sullivan said that “air cargo data still sits in fragmented systems across the supply chain, creating duplication, delays, and compliance risks”.

He noted that this is particularly challenging for high-volume segments such as e-commerce, where house waybill data must remain aligned with airline master air waybill records across multiple systems and jurisdictions.

He said that “ONE Record represents a foundational shift in how the industry shares, manages, and trusts data across the supply chain”.

According to IATA, ONE Record became the preferred method for end-to-end cargo data exchange from January 2026.

Airlines accounting for more than 70 per cent of global air waybill volumes are on track for implementation, although the association said progress could be accelerated if more airlines and freight forwarders scale deployment, governments accept ONE Record data in regulatory filings, and technology providers build secure, interoperable platforms.

At the same time, IATA said it is focusing on global standards in two key areas: dangerous goods regulations and airport slots.

On dangerous goods, it said the number of state and operator variations has risen to more than 1,200, adding complexity in an area where safety depends on globally consistent rules.

While variations will always exist, IATA said these should remain transparent, justified and as closely aligned as possible with international standards.

On airport slots, the association said fair access to infrastructure remains essential for efficient cargo operations. However, at major hubs including Bogotá, Dubai, Heathrow and Gatwick, cargo carriers often receive only temporary or ad hoc slots rather than historic allocations, limiting operational flexibility and long-term planning.

IATA said slot allocation should therefore follow the principles of the Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines, so that access remains fair, transparent and non-discriminatory.

On this point, Sullivan said that “global standards and fair access to infrastructure are essential”.

He added that “as global trade evolves, aligning regulatory requirements and ensuring transparent slot allocation will be critical to maintaining reliable air cargo connectivity”.

As regards safety and security, IATA said continued attention is needed to ensure that dangerous goods safety frameworks and cargo security processes keep pace with evolving operational and security risks.

It noted that ICAO Annex 18 remains the global foundation for the safe transport of dangerous goods by air, but said modernisation is needed so that the rules better reflect digital and fast-moving supply chains, while also addressing emerging risks such as undeclared dangerous goods and the misuse of lithium batteries.

The association also warned that air cargo supply chains remain potential targets for malicious disruption, underlining the need for more consistent and modern security processes.

It said the cargo Consignment Security Declaration (CSD) remains a critical compliance tool, although implementation is still uneven across jurisdictions. In that regard, IATA called for wider adoption of electronic CSD (e-CSD) solutions to improve data accuracy, reduce manual processes and support more efficient security oversight.

It also emphasised the need for greater alignment across pre-loading advance cargo information programmes.

Concluding, Sullivan said that “safety and security are shared responsibilities across the entire cargo ecosystem”. He added that “modernising global frameworks and strengthening cooperation between governments and industry will be essential to ensuring that global trade continues to move safely and securely”.