Ep 31: Reimagining air transport for the digital age

With 80% of cross-border e-commerce transported by air, air cargo is a cornerstone of global trade. Beyond enabling these economically vital exchanges, air transport fosters development, creates jobs, improves infrastructure, and drives global connectivity. Since its founding in 1945, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has played a key role in shaping the air transport industry. Representing 320 airlines and 83% of global air traffic, IATA focuses on setting global standards, improving operational efficiency, and addressing the evolving challenges of the aviation sector. Its partnership with the UPU is nearly as old as IATA itself. For seven decades, the two organizations have worked together to align postal and aviation processes, address safety and security concerns, and enhance the seamless exchange of data across the supply chain. In this episode of Voice Mail, André Majeres, Head of E-Commerce and Cargo Operations at IATA, explores how air cargo underpins cross-border e-commerce, a market projected to account for one in three parcels globally by 2027. He discusses IATA’s key priorities – safety, security, digitalization, and sustainability – and emphasizes that open collaboration among all supply chain stakeholders, innovation, and seamless integration are essential to the persistent vitality and relevance of post-airline cooperation.