The IATA Cargo Agency program has operated for many decades without significant alterations, despite compelling changes in the business relationship between cargo agents and airlines. Today, the traditional IATA Cargo Agent has transitioned from being a selling-agent of the airline to being a purchasing-customer.
In an effort to modernize the current Agency program, FIATA (representing international freight forwarders and logistic providers) and IATA (representing airlines) have joined forces to review, refine, and re-engineer the airline conference based program to one which would be jointly managed by airlines and forwarders. Major steps have been made and this collaboration has resulted in the development of a new joint IATA-FIATA Air Cargo Program, and significant strides in redefining airline and forwarder responsibilities.
The new proposed governance mechanism establishes an IATA-FIATA Governance Board, which recognizes the role played by forwarders in today’s marketplace as customers of the airlines, and increases consultations at all levels to achieve common air cargo goals, which are objectives for both FIATA and IATA.
· IFACP White Paper
Ø Background
Ø Benefits
Ø Key highlight with major differences between the current and future program
Ø Value Proposition
The IFACP White Paper outlining the above information was released and downloadable at:
http://fiata.com/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/IFACP_White_paper.pdf
· IFACP FAQ
The FAQ is available at: http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/cargo/Documents/IFACP-FAQ-20160715.pdf
· Impact on the current IATA Cargo Agents
Members please note that there is no immediate impact on the current IATA Cargo Agents as the current participants of the IATA Cargo Agency/Intermediary Program will be provided with a new IATA-FIATA Air Cargo Program Agreement when the program implementation process begins in Hong Kong. Upon execution and receipt of the completed Agreement, the Endorsed Freight Forwarder will join the new program. No further assessment will be required. New entrants shall be granted access to the IFACP in accordance with the program's rules, which are designed to be more reflective of how the air cargo business functions in today’s market.
· Press Release dated 15 August 2017 - "New IATA FIATA Air Cargo Program - IFACP - launches in Canada"
Geneva and Zurich, Switzerland, Tuesday 15th August 2017 – The new IATA FIATA Air Cargo Program (IFACP) has been launched in Canada. The new Program, which will be rolled out globally following the Canadian pilot, replaces the existing Cargo Agency Program, and will be jointly managed by forwarders and airlines as equal partners in the decision-making process... [more]