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Canada pilots' new international IATA-FIATA Air Cargo Programme

IATA and FIATA have teamed up to re-engineer the Cargo Agency Programme to develop a new and modernised programme: the IATA-FIATA Air Cargo Programme (IFACP), which begins its global rollout with a Canadian pilot in August and replaces the current IATA Cargo Agency Programme.

The Cargo Agency Programme was amended to meet the evolving needs of the air cargo industry and better reflect the change in relationships and the transformed role of the freight forwarder, reported Toronto's Materials Management and Distribution.

The new IFACP Freight Forwarder Agreement shall govern the relationship between freight forwarders and air carriers participating in the programme.

"Simplifying the governance structure reduces the administrative requirement to manage the programme," said IATA director FDS operations, Juan Antonio Rodriguez.

"Given that more than 80 per cent of transactions are performed by freight forwarders acting as principals, the proposed IFACP better clarifies and validates the business through a buyer-seller relationship."

IFACP addresses the principal-to-principal relationship between freight forwarders and airlines, helping to clarify liability issues on cargo claims, as well as supporting members to work towards key industry goals such as e-freight adoption, according to Mr Rodriguez.

Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA) and Air Canada Cargo are pleased that an IATA-FIATA Governance Board (IFGB) has been established to govern the activities of the IFACP. It will jointly, with equal airline and forwarder representation, manage the programme and provide the policy, strategy, oversight and guidance as to how the IFACP operates.

During the roll out, current participants of the IATA Cargo gency/Intermediary Programme will be provided with a new agreement and will automatically join IFACP and continue their existing enrollment in CASS once they have signed and returned the paperwork.