Over the decades that the IATA Cargo Agency Programme has operated, IATA Cargo Agents (freight forwarders) have evolved from being selling agents for airlines to being their purchasing customers. In consideration of this evolution, in 2012 IATA and FIATA joined forces to review, refine and re-engineer the existing Agency Programme. This new programme moves decision-making on the rules governing the airline/forwarder relationship away from an airline-led conference to a governance body (the IATA-FIATA Governance Board), which is jointly managed by forwarders and airlines, thus reflecting today’s market conditions.
“IATA and FIATA have reached an important agreement on a new, jointly-managed air cargo programme. This is the result of four years of hard work to modernise the relationship between freight forwarders and airlines. 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,” said Aleks Popovich, IATA's Senior Vice President, Financial and Distribution Services.
“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 programme 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”, remarked Rudi Sagel, Chairman of FIATA’s Airfreight Institute.
The phased roll-out of IFACP will begin in early 2017, with Canada as the pilot country.
