The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) have concluded agreement to implement the IATA-FIATA Air Cargo Programme (IFACP) to replace the existing one.IATA stated in a media statement on Tuesday, that the new programme would move decision-making away from the rules governing the airline-forwarder relationship and also from an airline-led conference to a governance body – the IATA-FIATA Governance Board (IFGB), jointly managed by forwarders and airlines.

The pact was signed by the Director General and Chief Executive Officer, IATA, Tony Tyler and the President of FIATA, Huxiang Zhao, According to IATA, over the decades, cargo agency programme has operated; cargo agents (freight forwarders) have evolved from being “selling-agents” for airlines to being their “purchasing-customers”.

The Senior Vice President, Financial and Distribution Services, IATA, Aleks Popovich, who said that IATA and FIATA have reached an important agreement on a new jointly-managed air cargo programme, added that this was the result of four years of hard work to modernize the relationship between freight forwarders and airlines.

He said: “The IFACP also provides a framework to ensure that industry standards are relevant, pragmatic and fit for purpose. These standards cover the endorsement of freight forwarders and more broadly the safe, secure and efficient transportation of air cargo shipments”.

Also, the Chairman of FIATA’s Airfreight Institute (AFI), Rudi Sagel said that: “The cargo agency programme has long needed updating. I am really pleased that FIATA and IATA have joined forces to provide our industry with a new, modern program and a framework for operation that benefits both airlines and freight forwarders. IFACP will eliminate unnecessary administrative procedures and costs as well as free up valuable resources to tackle the complex challenges that today’s global trade presents.

“These include regulatory compliance, safety and security and the introduction of new technologies. This agreement paves the way for a more successful future for the fastest and most fascinating mode of international transport”, Sagel added.

IATA stated that the phased rollout of IFACP would begin in early 2017 with Canada as the pilot country. It is anticipated that full global rollout will be completed by end of 2018. The public signature with the common endorsement of the agreement will take place at the October FIATA World Congress, which will be held in Dublin, Ireland, it pointed.

The structure of the new agreement will better reflect the new business models and the buyer-seller relationship that exists today between forwarders and airlines.With the establishment of a global IATA-FIATA Governance Board (IFGB), the industry will be better equipped to achieve key goals including: e-cargo priorities of greater efficiency and shared values, clarification of supply chain liability, improved compliance with safety and security standards through a more coordinated and concerted industry approach, said IATA

According to the new agreement, the IFGB governance structure will reduce the administrative burden in managing the program as it includes the involvement of forwarders as equal partners in the decision making process which now correctly reflects the Principal-to-Principal relationship existing today between Freight Forwarders and Airlines.

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 their country.

However, upon execution and receipt of the completed agreement, the endorsed freight forwarder will join the new program, stressing that no further assessment will be required. While, 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. It is anticipated this process will be completed by end of 2018, added the body.