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ASA JOINS FORCES WITH CARGO IQ and FIATA TO DRIVE GLOBAL STANDARDS ACROSS ALL SECTORS IN AIR CARGO
Published on: 30 May 2023ASA JOINS FORCES WITH CARGO IQ and FIATA TO DRIVE GLOBAL STANDARDS ACROSS ALL SECTORS IN AIR CARGO
The three global associations will work together to strengthen collaboration between forwarders, handlers, and airlines, to drive unified high standards
Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday 30th May 2023: Quality standards organization Cargo iQ has forged a partnership with the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) and the Airport Services Association (ASA) to set shared goals for enhanced standard practices across the air cargo supply chain.
The objective of the alliance is to strengthen collaboration between forwarder, ground handler, and airline communities, working on a global basis to achieve common standards and enhanced quality.
The decision was made at Cargo iQ’s most recent board meeting that FIATA’s Director General, Stéphane Graber, and ASA’s Director General, Fabio Gamba, will attend all Cargo iQ board meetings as observers and work together with the board members, with a view to intensifying the co-operation in the future.
“Cargo iQ – an interest group strongly supported by IATA – shares lots of similar goals with FIATA and ASA as all three of us strive to improve standards, data use, and processes in line with shippers’ requirements for a solid and objective quality certification program, so why not work together instead of reinventing the wheel,” said Lothar Moehle, Executive Director, Cargo iQ.
“We look forward to continuing the dialogue about how we can help further each other’s ambitions and progress – this is the start of a strong co-operation for the future.”
FIATA represents 40,000 forwarders and logistics firms around the world, while the ASA comprises 50 global members from across the aviation services industry, acting as the voice of the 2.3 million people servicing aircraft on the ground.
“FIATA is thrilled to be participating in the board meetings of Cargo iQ, and to join with the group and ASA to drive global standards,” said Stéphane Graber, Director General, FIATA.
“This collaboration is a key initiative in the optimization of air cargo processes for all logistics supply chain stakeholders involving air freight.
“Along with these other key stakeholders, FIATA’s priority is the continuous improvement of operational processes and representing the widespread and global voice of freight forwarders in a collective, global effort.”
The partnership will see FIATA and ASA, which soon hopes to become an IATA- recognized entity, privy to all information about Cargo iQ and what members are actively doing in respect of quality improvement.
“This initiative from Cargo iQ to offer FIATA and ASA an observer seat at their board is spot on,” said Fabio Gamba, Director General, ASA.
“The cargo value chain is a very complex one, and only a truly holistic approach, involving all the major stakeholders, will work.
“We at ASA are delighted to join, all the more so as the importance of cargo, already central in the operations of handling agents, has demonstrated during the pandemic how crucial to the world a seamless and well-performing cargo platform is.
“Together we’ll endeavour to keep it that way.”
Cargo iQ continues to welcome members big and small from across the air cargo industry to its community and is actively encouraging national and regional airlines and handlers to join existing members in the pursuit of a more standardized supply chain.
About FIATA
FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations is a non-governmental, membership-based organisation representing freight forwarders in some 150 countries. FIATA’s membership is composed of 109 Association Members and more than 5,500 Individual Members, overall representing an industry of 40,000 freight forwarding and logistics firms worldwide. Based in Geneva, FIATA is ‘the global voice of freight logistics’.
About ASA
The aviation services sector joins forces to foster rules and standards that promote, rather than stifle, their business’s safe and efficient development. Authorities and international organisations rely on a partner with the right credentials, expertise, and knowledge to help them achieve this essential task for air transport. ASA is fully committed to the mission with a membership of more than 50 companies around the globe, representing hundreds of thousands of qualified workers.
About Cargo iQ
Cargo iQ is a not-for-profit quality standards group working to create and implement specifications to enhance the customer service experience of the global air cargo industry.
Originally founded by leading airlines and forwarders to improve reliability in the supply chain, Cargo iQ membership has grown to include more than 60 members from across the industry during its 25+ years of operation, including airlines, forwarders, ground handlers, IT solution providers, and Road Feeder Services (RFS), incorporating the small- to medium-sized (SME) community.
Members work together to develop a system of shipment planning and performance monitoring for air cargo based on common business processes and milestones. This Quality Management System (QMS) drives continuous improvement in member operations and forms the cornerstone of Cargo iQ’s work.
Members are externally audited at regular intervals for quality compliance as proof of their commitment to delivering quality-driven services and supporting real-time service delivery.
As part of that system, the Cargo iQ Master Operating Plan (MOP), which has been endorsed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), defines the standard end-to-end process of transporting air cargo.
The organization is supported by IATA as one of its interest groups.
