FIATA
International Federation of
Freight Forwarders Associations
The global voice of freight logistics

Upcoming FIATA-RAP Field Meeting, Air Cargo Insights, Cyber Resilience

FIATA e-flash
25 April 2025

2025 FIATA-RAP Field Meeting: Advancing Regional Dialogue in New Delhi’s Thriving Logistics Hub

FIATA is pleased to invite members and stakeholders to the upcoming FIATA-Region Asia Pacific (FIATA-RAP) Field Meeting, taking place from 21 to 24 May 2025 in the dynamic city of New Delhi, India.

Hosted by the Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI), the meeting will be held in the modern Aerocity district, ideally situated near the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

The FIATA-RAP Field Meeting offers a key platform for dialogue and exchange among industry leaders, policymakers, and freight forwarding professionals from across the Region Asia-Pacific. This year’s edition will also include the election of the FIATA-RAP Chair and Vice Chair, providing FIATA Members with an important opportunity to contribute to the strategic direction of the region.

Set against the backdrop of India’s rapidly evolving logistics landscape, driven by infrastructure development and regulatory reform, the event highlights the country’s growing role in global trade. The choice of Aerocity reflects India’s capacity to host international gatherings and its commitment to advancing the freight forwarding sector.

Click here to find our more and to register. 

FIATA looks forward to the participation of its Members and to welcoming delegates to New Delhi in May 2025.

Register Now!

Air Cargo: FIATA President at the First ICAO Air Cargo Summit

From left to right: Jerome Lorig, CHAMP Cargosystems Luxembourg S.A; Calvin Jin, Boeing; Vugar Mammadov, Silk Way West Airlines; Turgut Erkeskin, FIATA; Mohamed Khalifa Rahma, ICAO; Jose Anson, Universal Postal Union; Boyang Xue, World Economic Forum.

FIATA President, Turgut Erkeskin, attended the first ICAO Air Cargo Summit, held in Antalya, Türkiye, under the sponsorship of MNG Airlines and with the support of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of Türkiye. The event brought together key stakeholders from across the air cargo ecosystem, including regulators, associations, industry leaders, and logistics experts, to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing our sector.

The main themes of the forum centred around e-commerce, safety and security, and digitalisation – all of which are critical components for the continued growth and resilience of the global air cargo industry. FIATA President shared insights in a panel discussion focused on e-commerce logistics, with more emphasis on the dynamic and fast-evolving nature of this segment and  its increasing importance to air freight supply chains worldwide.

In his intervention, he highlighted how e-commerce is redefining expectations around speed, visibility, flexibility and safety and how this requires closer collaboration across all stakeholders, from freight forwarders and airlines to regulators and technology providers. The event also provided a valuable platform to discuss the regulatory aspects of air cargo in the context of digital trade and border security, with the presence of World Customs Organization and civil aviation authorities enriching the dialogue.

This forum once again highlighted the importance of strong collaboration between FIATA and ICAO. Our joint efforts in areas such as safety, training, and digitalisation are essential to shaping policies that are both effective and practical for the freight forwarding industry. We remain committed to deepening this cooperation for the benefit of global air cargo logistics.

From left to right: FIATA President, Turgut Erkeskin; ICAO Director General, Juan Carlos Salazar.

Air Cargo: FIATA at the IATA World Cargo Symposium

Left to right: James van Epps (Airlines for Americas), Andrea Tang (FIATA), Matthew Fleming (Qantas Group, Ibrahim Ali Albuainain (Qatar Civil Aviation Authority).

FIATA, represented by the FIATA President Turgut Erkeskin, FIATA Air Freight Institute Chair Dawit Woubishet and FIATA Legal Services Director Andrea Tang, participated in the 2025 edition of the IATA World Cargo Symposium (WCS) in Dubai held on 15-17 April at a time of significant volatility and uncertainty for global trade. Air cargo will continue to play a critical role in supply chains, and it is predicted that demand will continue to outpace capacity. Meanwhile, unpredictable trade policies and geopolitical tensions mean that agile and diversified supply chains are ever more crucial, supported by digitalisation and sustainability efforts. Navigating these complexities will require actors to leverage partnerships and trade agreements, as well as industry capacity building, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprise (SMEs).

The FIATA participated in two panel discussions in the Safety and Security Stream, showcasing the active work conducted by the FIATA Airfreight Institute (AFI) through its Safety and Security Taskforce, and the ongoing collaboration between FIATA and IATA. 

Left to right: Jussi Mattila (Cargolux Airlines), Andrea Tang (FIATA), Victoria Wrobel (United Cargo), Christopher Licht (Qatar Airways)

The first panel focused on safety in air cargo operations, moderated by Christopher Licht (Qatar Airways). Sitting on the panel alongside the FIATA Legal Services Director were Victoria Wrobel (United Cargo) and Jussi Mattila (Cargolux Airlines). In the context of increased e-commerce and more complex handling requirements, the panel examined how to ensure safety and efficiency and streamline operations. The importance of house-level information for improved risk profiling and customs accuracy was underlined, which has the potential to provide early and granular insights from the source. The ability to successfully harness the power of data and exchange trusted secure information will require alignment on digital standards and strong data governance frameworks. Discussion also took place on the collaboration between IATA and FIATA to raise awareness on standards for unit load device (ULD) handling and strengthen operational processes. FIATA welcomed the collaboration, pointing to the significant work conducted by the FIATA AFI Safety and Security Taskforce in reviewing and inputting on the IATA Cargo Handling Manual (ICHM), which sets out globally standardised procedures that promote consistency, safety, and efficiency for all actors. FIATA is now currently working on a review of the IATA compliance white paper on Shipper Built ULDs (SBU). IATA and FIATA will continue its work to jointly raise global awareness and promote best practices across the relevant industry actors.

Left to right: James van Epps (Airlines for Americas), Andrea Tang (FIATA), Matthew Fleming (Qantas Group, Ibrahim Ali Albuainain (Qatar Civil Aviation Authority).

The FIATA Legal Services Director also participated in an airfreight security-focused panel. This panel was moderated by James van Epps (Airlines for Americas), and fellow panelists included Ibrahim Ali Albuainain (Qatar Civil Aviation Authority) and Matthew Fleming (Qantas Group). House-level information was again underlined as crucial, and discussions took place on pre-loading advance cargo information (PLACI) programmes and the importance of multiple filing possibilities. Dialogue and consultation amongst all actors - forwarders, airlines, regulators - is ever more important to support the global industry and promte harmonisation for ease of compliance. Discussion also took place on the existing Consignment Security Declaration (CSD), which plays a complementary role to PLACI requirements, and which could be greatly enhanced by integrationg house-level information and recognising that security checks can take place at different stages by different parties. This could also facilitate ease of PLACI compliance, supporting early and reliable data sharing. Ultimately, the goal is to create a trusted digital chain of custody—where the security and integrity of each shipment can be verified from origin to destination. FIATA is working closely with all stakeholders to promote integration, supporting the industry with guidance, tools and alignment.

FIATA was pleased to note that forwarders and house-level information played a leading role in the discussions, demonstrating increased recognition of their important role in the supply chain. FIATA thanks IATA for the invitation to participate in the WCS 2025 and looks forward to continuing to work together to strengthen the air cargo supply chain.

Cybersecurity: Building Cyber Resilience with the World Economic Forum

Participants engaging in the workshop-style session ‘Building Cyber Resilience with the World Economic Forum’ at the 2025 FIATA HQ Meeting.

In the March 2025 FIATA Review, we delve into one of the most pressing challenges facing the global logistics sector: cybersecurity. In Building Cyber Resilience with the World Economic Forum – Cybersecurity in Logistics, Margi Van Gogh and Filipe Beato share timely insights on the growing vulnerability of critical transport infrastructure in an increasingly digital world.

With over 420 million cyberattacks on global infrastructure in a single year, the transportation sector has become a high-value target. This feature explores the impact of such threats—from disrupted port operations to cascading effects across supply chains—and outlines the steps needed to build collective cyber resilience.

Drawing on outcomes from the World Economic Forum's 2025 Davos meeting, the article highlights:

  • The systemic nature of cyber risks in logistics
  • The importance of cyber governance and third-party risk management
  • Why collaboration across public and private sectors is key to resilience

Read the full article in the March 2025 FIATA Review and stay informed on how our industry can protect its digital backbone.

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