Air cargo industry calls for support from new ICAO secretary general

Juan Carlos Salazar this week began his three-year term as secretary general of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a role previously occupied by Fang Liu. Members of the air cargo community, including the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Association (FIATA) and the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA), have welcomed Salazar and urged him to adopt a stance that will advance air cargo during his term. [caption id="attachment_96478" align="alignright" width="260"] Juan Carlos Salazar, Secretary General of ICAO[/caption] Salazar’s appointment “comes at a critical time for air cargo, which shares some of the challenges of the passenger industry but also faces unique difficulties in the current operating environment,” FIATA and partners said in a release. FIATA noted the critical role air cargo has played in transporting vaccines and vital medical supplies, and in keeping global supply chains active throughout the pandemic. The organization is calling on Salazar to further build on the magnified profile the air cargo community has gained during the pandemic by promoting a variety of policies to develop the industry, especially in the arenas of digitalization, e-commerce and cargo-specific regulations. Noting the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the recovery of pre-COVID passenger services and the consequent need for sustained cargo-only operations, FIATA and partners extended an offer to support ICAO and Salazar in initiatives to strengthen the air cargo industry. Air cargo operations will remain vital to the long-term health and recovery of strained global supply chains, the release stated, including trade lanes that directly impact ICAO member states. FIATA urged ICAO to utilize its October 2021 High-level Conference on COVID-19 (HLCC 2021) to discuss the role ICAO can play in “futureproof[ing] all-cargo air operations, building in strength and resilience while ensuring that the secor is prepared for any future pandemic or other emergency.” The theme for the virtual HLCC 2021 event is “One Vision for Aviation Recovery, Resilience and Sustainability beyond the Global Pandemic.” Its objective, according to the conference website, is to develop safe and efficient methods for enabling pandemic recovery in the aviation industry. The conference also aims to “[build] a foundation to strengthen resilience in aviation and make it more sustainable in the future.” Currently, the publicly available agenda for HLCC 2021 makes little mention of cargo operations.

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