Introduction
Good morning, and welcome to the 18th World Cargo Symposium here in Dubai. A big thank you to Emirates SkyCargo and dnata for hosting us in this dynamic and vibrant city. It's always a pleasure to return to the Middle East, a region that plays a vital role in global air cargo connectivity, innovation, and resilience.
I want to start by sharing a story.
Since October 2023, attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea brought one of the world's busiest shipping lanes to a standstill. Supply chains were disrupted. Deliveries were delayed. Shockwaves were felt across global trade routes. Among the affected cargo was a shipment of vital medical supplies headed for clinics in Sudan and Yemen that were under strain from conflict and shortages.
With ocean freight stalled and the humanitarian clock ticking, relief organizations, had to act fast.
Direct Relief, one of the groups involved, made a crucial decision to shift part of the shipment from sea to air.
When the global supply chain stumbled, air cargo proved its agility—adapting, responding, and delivering.
That's what we do. In moments of uncertainty, we bring reliability. When others stall, we keep moving. When time is critical, air cargo delivers. And we have seen that yet again as the world rushes to get relief supplied to Myanmar in the aftermath of March's earthquake.
Of course, these are extreme circumstances. But they're a powerful reminder of air cargo's vital role—day in, day out—beyond the headlines of conflicts and relief efforts. On an average day, 180,000 tonnes of goods reach their destination by air. This is the lifeblood of global trade—driving growth, creating jobs, and spreading prosperity.
Current trade tensions are deeply concerning. It's no secret—we believe trade drives prosperity. The more the world trades, the better off we all are. So, whatever the resolution of current trade tensions is, we know that air cargo will be there to deliver the goods people need and want. And to do that it is critical that we remain focused on the fundamental expectations of our customers—that we are safe, operate with modernized processes and are driving towards sustainability.
Today, I want to speak not just about policy or performance metrics—but about the real stories behind these priorities. Stories that illustrate how safety, digitalization and sustainability are driving our business today and into the future.
Safety & Security — The Battery That Wasn't Declared
To start, let me take you to a cargo terminal in East Asia. A routine inspection. The airwaybill listed "mobile phone accessories" which is nothing out of the ordinary. But one package caught an inspector's attention. It contained damaged, undeclared lithium batteries. The successful intervention of the inspector stopped a serious safety risk, that was just hours away from being loaded onto an aircraft.
And that happened because of our industry's safety culture and the supports we have put in place. The inspector had just completed IATA's dangerous goods training. He was helped by DG AutoCheck which caught the mismatch between what was declared and what was in the box. And the airline's station was CEIV Lithium Batteries-certified, meaning strong, consistent processes were in place.
Shipments of lithium batteries continue to surge. More and more people are using devices powered by lithium batteries, with ever increasing amounts of stored energy— in addition to phones, cameras and tablets, we are seeing bigger batteries in power tools, e-bikes, and drones. As those shipments increase in number, the number of incidents or potential incidents will rise unless we are even more vigilant. We must step-up our efforts even further…
- First, by stopping rogue shippers: Too many lithium battery shipments enter the system undeclared or mis-declared. That's unacceptable. It puts aircraft at risk. It puts lives at risk. Civil aviation authorities must take firm enforcement action against non-compliant shippers. And we need governments to actively support ICAO's work to strengthen Annex 18—the global framework for the safe transport of dangerous goods by air.
- Second, we must ensure that training is rigorous, and compliance is universal. Last year over 85,000 professionals were trained through IATA's Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) Center for Dangerous Goods. Our CEIV Lithium Batteries certification continues to expand—raising the bar across the supply chain, with 121 organizations already on board. From manufacturers and shippers to freight forwarders and airlines, every link in the chain must be competent, informed, and accountable.
Setting the Standard in Air Cargo
Let me take a moment to talk about CEIV, IATA's Center of Excellence for Independent Validators. Now in its 10th year, CEIV is transforming how the industry handles specialized cargo by embedding compliance into everyday operations through rigorous, standardized training and assessment.
Since the launch of the first CEIV for Pharma in 2014, the program has expanded to include Live Animals, Fresh, and Lithium Batteries—each raising the bar in handling, transparency, and trust.
We're seeing real impact:
- Over 600 companies across 65 countries are CEIV Pharma-certified
- More than 250,000+ trade lanes operate using CEIV standards
- 99% of certified companies say CEIV fosters a culture of continuous improvement
This is the future of air cargo standards—collaborative, transparent, and constantly advancing. We thank the industry for their trust, as together, we continue building the foundation of a modern safety culture.
Security: An Evolving Threat Landscape
Just as safety demands vigilance, so does security.
Civil aviation must never be used as a pawn in geopolitical disputes. Acts like forcing down aircraft or hiding incendiary devices in cargo must be condemned—clearly and without exception.
Following recent incidents where incendiary devices were concealed in packages and ignited, some States imposed new security measures. But without coordination, responses were inconsistent. Some were ineffective. Others were later reversed. It was far from the joined-up risk-based approach based on global standards that was needed.
IATA developed guidance to help airlines and supply chain partners manage the incendiary device threat—guidance that was endorsed across the industry. And we continue to collaborate closely with ICAO and its member states, the TSA, the European Commission and other civil aviation authorities in support of coordinated, proportionate, and effective policy responses. We urge states to live up to their Annex 17 obligations, to share baseline factual threat information so that airlines can assess risks and respond effectively.
Whether it is safety or security, the industry is best placed to understand its operations and the associated safety and security risks. And the best results come when governments and industry work together—collaboratively and transparently—to create and implement the global standards that have guided our industry for over a century.
Digitalization
Let's shift gears to digitalization and another story that you will all be familiar with. A fire at an electrical substation closed a major airport hub in Northern Europe..... no prizes for guessing which one. A flight carrying a time-critical pharmaceutical shipment, destined for a cancer clinic in the country, was unable to land. Every hour counted.
Thanks to integrated digital systems, the shipment was instantly rerouted. Customs documentation was adjusted in real time. Tracking updates from a verified data logger verified through the IATA Air Cargo Device Assessment Program reassured both the shipper and the consignee that the shipment was still in good condition. And most importantly—the patient received their treatment on time.
That's the power of digitalization in the future. If safety is our foundation, digitalization is our accelerator. It makes us faster, more transparent, and more resilient.
But digitalization is not just about speed. It is also about helping navigate an increasingly fragmented regulatory environment. Airlines are expected to comply with advance data requirements in the jurisdictions they operate to. These requirements are growing in number and complexity, increasing risks of inconsistent implementation or compliance. And when things go wrong, airlines can face penalties as high as USD 100,000 per violation. Not the governments that created system complexity. And not the supply chain partner who submitted erroneous data to the airline.
This fragmented data environment is especially challenging for e-commerce shipments, where multiple house waybill filings can conflict with the airline's master air waybill.
This is where ONE Record comes in.
ONE Record enables seamless, end-to-end data exchange across the entire supply chain. It cuts out duplication, closes data blind spots, and strengthens compliance with regulatory requirements.
The industry's goal is clear: by January 2026, ONE Record will become the preferred method of sharing data.
And we're well on the way. Airlines representing 72% of global air waybill volume are on track to implement it. More than 100 IT providers and 10,000 freight forwarders are already aligned.
Open-source tools like NE:ONE, supported by a German government backed consortium, are making it easier for smaller players to adopt this standard. The goal is a single source of truth for every shipment—reducing ambiguity, error, and the risk of sanctions.
But implementation must accelerate. We urge:
- Airlines and forwarders to act now and implement ONE Record
- Governments to accept ONE Record in their regulatory data filing requirements
- Developers to build compatible, secure, and open platforms
At the same time, digitalization isn't one-size-fits-all. As air cargo advances on its digital journey, our standards must evolve with it. LAR Verify—our new web-based portal for live animal transport—is a prime example. It provides instant access to destination-specific regulations, helping improve compliance, enhance animal welfare, and reduce risk. It's a clear model for how targeted digital tools can meet the specific needs of specialized cargo while supporting the broader vision of a fully digital, connected supply chain.
Beyond Documents: Toward Real-Time Visibility
Digitalization is not just about replacing paper with pixels. It's also about culture. Our Digitalization Leadership Charter combined with the Digital Cargo Alliance brings together close to 40 signatories around shared principles: interoperability, data security, sustainability, and innovation.
And across IATA, we are exploring the potential of AI, insourcing digital talent, launching proof-of-concepts, and prioritizing cybersecurity.
Why does this matter? Because digitalization enables us to anticipate disruption—not just react to it. It empowers us to serve customers better, comply with regulators more easily, and reduce friction in global trade.
It is, in short, how we future-proof our industry.
Sustainability
The third pillar is sustainability.
Let me tell you one final story- a bit closer to home - illustrating our commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
A Hokkaido scallop that was harvested in Japan yesterday morning will be eaten in Nobu, a Japanese restaurant in Dubai. This journey is remarkable—not just for its speed, but for the steps taken to reduce its environmental footprint. More than that, it represents a global supply chain that connects producers—whether from mature or emerging markets—to international customers, supporting livelihoods and driving economic growth around the world.
This scallop, together with other fresh produce from Japan, was flown on an Emirates aircraft partly powered by Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) produced in Singapore, recorded through the just-launched SAF Registry that enables SAF book & claim.
The shipment followed IATA's CEIV Fresh standards—ensuring temperature-controlled handling that reduced waste and spoilage. It travelled in reusable and recyclable packaging and was handled by dnata ground crews using efficient, low-emissions enhanced GSEs.
For the shipper, this wasn't just seafood—it was a promise to deliver quality produce with minimal cost to the environment.
And this goal is shared across the air cargo industry.
The air cargo industry is embracing sustainability principles, in-flight and on the ground. Waste reduction and the implementation of circularity strategies have become part of the standard way in which we conduct our operations.
- Airlines and handlers are focusing on alternatives to plastic, focusing on reduction, reuse and recycling. As an example, Atlas Air, now reuses shredded cardboard as packaging material, significantly reducing plastic waste.
- IATA has issued guidance to eliminate single-use plastics across aviation and the cargo supply chain and included these principles into handling standards.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
We're also taking action to address our biggest environmental cost: carbon emissions. Momentum around Sustainable Aviation Fuel is growing fast, with players across the value chain stepping up.
- DHL and IAG Cargo renewed their SAF agreement—60 million liters, avoiding 165,000 tonnes of CO2.
- Kintetsu World Express and IAG signed for 640,000 liters.
- Korean Air and CEVA Logistics expanded their SAF partnership.
- Lufthansa Cargo and Maersk committed to 400 tonnes by year-end.
- At least seven shipper-forwarder SAF deals were signed in the past year—including Formula 1's investment deals with Qatar Airways and DHL.
And soon, IATA's CO2 Connect for Cargo will help calculate shipment emissions more accurately—factoring in SAF, aligned with our reporting methodology.
Without belittling these efforts, they are, frankly, nowhere near the volumes that we need to be speaking about.
We don't have enough SAF. And the cost of what is available needs to come down.
We remain committed to our 2050 goal. But the ramp-up to that has been disappointing to say the least. Governments have not provided the policy support needed, even though they have a playbook at hand with how the wind and solar energy industries expanded.
In fact, they continue to send completely mixed signals by subsidizing fossil fuel extraction. And the major fuel producers have been slow-walking—or sidelining—planned investments in SAF. Additionally, aircraft manufacturers have backed off their commitments for medium-term delivery of CO2 saving products such as hydrogen powered aircraft.
Airlines are committed and determined. But this is not our show alone. We need much more action behind the words of regulators, fuel suppliers and manufacturers.
Conclusion — Our Story Is Still Being Written
So here we are. In a world that is anything but predictable, air cargo continues to deliver. Each and every day we deliver so reliably that much of what we do to power the global economy and drive prosperity is taken for granted. And through every shock, that value is illuminated for all to see.
From a faulty lithium battery intercepted, to a cancer medicine rerouted, to a scallop carefully delivered—these are not just anecdotes. They are proof that we make good on our aspirations even whether we are in the spotlight or not.
Let us continue to tell these stories. Let us continue to write this next chapter—together.
Thank you.
