FIATA urges practical digitalisation in air cargo

The International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) has called for closer cooperation and more practical digitalisation in air cargo, as the sector faces geopolitical disruption, capacity constraints and growing demand for real-time visibility.

FIATA Director General Dr Stéphane Graber said resilience has become a core competitive factor for logistics companies. In today’s market, air cargo operators need not only speed and cost efficiency, but also reliable data, stronger execution and the ability to respond quickly when supply chains are disrupted.

For FIATA, digitalisation is central to this shift. The organisation said the industry should move beyond fragmented tools and focus on systems that create trusted data, shared visibility and better coordination between stakeholders.

This approach is also reflected in the modernisation of the Global Air Cargo Programme, carried out with IATA. FIATA said the programme should support innovation, safety, efficiency and digital progress, while remaining aligned with how the market works in practice.

At the same time, the organisation warned that major changes must be backed by legal, operational, insurance and technical analysis. Without this groundwork, digital and regulatory reforms risk creating new friction and disputes instead of improving confidence.

FIATA also highlighted its 2026 regional meetings as part of its wider engagement with the freight forwarding sector. The Asia-Pacific Field Meeting will take place in Tianjin, China, from 2 to 4 June 2026, while the Europe Field Meeting was held in Bucharest on 18-19 May with delegates from 22 territories.

The organisation further underlined the role of the electronic negotiable FIATA Multimodal Bill of Lading, saying it can reduce paperwork, lower administrative costs and improve access to trade finance for small and medium-sized enterprises.

source and photo: fiata.org