CIFFA Forwarder Spring 2025

30 THE FORWARDER | SPRING 2025 FIATA Airfreight Institute (AFI) - Reporting Chair: Dawit Woubishet The main challenges for FIATA members in relation to the Institute/Body subject area are: • Outdated and fragmented air cargo rules around the world, particularly in Africa-Middle East and Asia-Pacific. • Frequently changing rules and regulations on safety and security e.g. US CBP rules. • Capacity shortages, especially for perishable and special cargo movements. The FIATA Airfreight Institute has achieved positive collaboration with IATA and the airlines, notably with the successful advocacy for the establishment of an IFCC Working Group on the modernisation of the global air cargo framework, which was agreed at the 51st Cargo Agency Conference in 2024. The Terms of Reference of the IFCC Working Group have now been finalized. This work will be crucial to achieving a more harmonized and modernized global air cargo framework that can benefit all regions and address modern industry needs. AFI aims to continue supporting freight forwarders to ensure their voice is represented in the IATA Cargo Agency Programme, including defending their interests in the IFCC and in the regional joint councils. The appointment of a freight forwarder representative as Chair of the IFCC, Mr Richard Gluck, will reinforce the forwarders’ role in shaping global airfreight policies. AFI is offering support towards FIATA members around the world in the establishment of IATA Local Consultative Councils (LCCs), to ensure that the freight forwarding community active in airfreight is involved and informed and can bring their voice to important industry consultations. Also, AFI will support the freight forwarding community on the implementation of Pre-Loading Advance Cargo Information (PLACI) regimes and global safety and security developments including: EU ICS-2 Release 2, PACT, US CBP emergency measures and ACAS requirements, and support on multiple filing arrangements to support freight forwarders in the protection of their commercial data and contribute to more effective and efficient PLACI compliance. In 2024, AFI released a model industry bilateral agreement on multiple filing arrangements, which was developed in collaboration with airlines and freight forwarders, to ensure greater clarity in the roles and responsibilities of freight forwarders and airlines. AFI ensured the forwarder voice was heard on safety and security topics in air freight, including providing key input on the IATA Cargo Handling Manual through the AFI Taskforce on Safety and Security, as well as on the handling of ULDs. AFI provided continued support on the ICAO-FIATA Dangerous Goods by Air Training Programme, including validation of new trainers, and represented the global voice of freight forwarding on landmark airfreight events, such as Air Cargo Africa 2025, World Cargo Summit, 7th Annual AFN Meeting 2024, Global Freight Summit by DP World, Air Cargo Handling & Logistics (ACHL) and many more. AFI noted that commitment and collaboration is needed to implement the air cargo global programme. There are capacity shortages. An understanding of e-commerce and how to adapt business models accordingly will be needed, and competition issues related to shipping lines are moving into the airline industry. This coming year AFI expects to work through the IFCC Working Group on the modernisation of the global air cargo framework, to be able to finalize and implement the Global Air Cargo Programme in all regions. It will be present defending and protecting the freight forwarding industry voice at the IFCC/87. AFI will continue to strengthen collaboration with key stakeholders to ensure continuous exchange and development e.g. IATA, governments, regional organizations. Technology (ABIT), Advisory Body Legal Matters (ABLM), FIATA Region Americas Committee (RAP), FIATA Region Africa & Middle East (RAME), FIATA Region Asia-Pacific (RAP), FIATA Region Europe (REU). Through a collaborative and inclusive approach, this body is engaging all stakeholders to ensure an integrated logistics ecosystem that addresses the practical industry needs FIATA Multimodal Transport Institute (MTI) – Working Group Rail-Reporting Chair: Ole Andreas Hagen The main challenges all over the world are a mix of rail freight’s competitiveness (frequency, quality, regularity and co-modality). In regions, such as Eurasia, the Ukrainian war/sanctions led to reduced traffic / rail freight potential from Asia to Europa (both directions). This leads to development / investments in alternative routes, like the Middle Corridor. In Europe, there are a lot of rail freight initiatives as part of the Trans-European network. In India there are great investment schemes for rail transport. China has invested in several corridor developments in Latin-America, Central Asia and Southeast Asia. Recently opened are the connections from China to Vietnam/Laos/Thailand. The main deliverables/outcomes achieved by the Institute/Body are: • Promotion campaign for electronic FIATA Bill of lading • Planning of a handbook for multimodal corridors • Planning of biannual Market Place Seminar in November 2025 • Participation in relevant Rail Freight Forum around the world, e.g. UNICITRAL/UNECE, UIC • Respond to legal framework development for the rail freight sector (e.g. OTIF) The body aims to boost interest and active participation in WG Rail Work, particularly in the new Handbook Project and Market Place Seminar in November. The body expects to deliver the Corridor Handbook as an industry tool, and to deliver a successful Market Place Seminar, in co-operation with UIC, while promoting WG Rail in relevant forums.