ICAO will be holding its first Global Air Cargo Summit in Antalya, Türkiye, in April this year: in the week prior to IATA’s World Cargo Symposium. Does the industry need another cargo event and how will this one differ from existing, established conferences?
It was only during an ad hoc discussion with a communication peer in the industry the week before last, that CargoForwarder Global learned of The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)’s upcoming event. A press release on the subject is not to be found on the ICAO website, though registration apparently opened on 29JAN25, as this was pushed through the organization’s social media channels. A rudimentary outline of the program is available on the event’s webpage, which was updated last week to include a video welcome address by ICAO Secretary General, Juan Carlos Salazar. The tentative agenda shows the three days split into Economic Development, Security and Facilitation, and Safety and Emerging Issues. A mix of presentations, panel discussions and ‘SkyTalks’ surrounding infrastructure, dangerous goods transportation, more flexible frameworks for air cargo, and the usual cargo conference themes of e-commerce, sustainability, and technology – viz digitalization, are listed. One interesting agenda focus does stands out, that is not often talked about: ‘Supporting air cargo transportation with unmanned aircraft’. However, with roughly 50 days left to go, there is no indication yet of who the speakers/presenters/exhibitors or sponsors will be.
ICAO explains
CFG wanted to know why ICAO had chosen to launch this summit, why the timing was so close to IATA’s conference, how this event would differ from existing events, and how many participants were expected, among other things. 10 such questions were put to William Raillant-Clark, Communications Officer at ICAO, who provided the following text by way of explanation:
“The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is launching its First Global Air Cargo Summit in Antalya, Türkiye, from April 9-11, 2025, recognizing the vital role that air cargo plays in global trade and commerce. The summit, themed ‘Advancing the Sustainable Growth of Air Cargo,’ comes at a crucial time, as air freight currently constitutes 35% of world trade by value despite accounting for less than one percent by volume. The significance of air cargo was particularly highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, where it proved essential for transporting humanitarian and medical supplies while maintaining critical supply chains for consumer goods.”
What is ICAO’s intention?
“This inaugural summit will serve as a crucial collaborative platform bringing together diverse stakeholders including regulators, airlines, freight forwarders, airport operators, academia, and strategic partners from relevant United Nations agencies. The timing is particularly significant as the discussions and outcomes are expected to help inform policy decisions at the upcoming 42nd session of the ICAO Assembly in September, making it a unique and exceptional venue for shaping the global air cargo framework,” he continued.
“The comprehensive three-day program will address critical industry challenges through ten focused sessions, covering topics such as market access liberalization, e-commerce integration, infrastructure development, security measures, and the emerging role of unmanned aircraft in cargo operations. Key discussions will explore ways to improve the operating environment by removing operational and regulatory constraints while maintaining safety and security standards. Specific focus areas include establishing more liberal market access for air cargo operations, implementing quality infrastructure, streamlining security measures, and fostering technological innovation in cargo processing. The summit will also examine the growing relationship between air cargo and e-commerce, noting that 80% of cross-border e-commerce is transported by air.
The event will be complemented by an exhibition showcasing products and services related to air cargo services. Administrative arrangements and registration details are being made available through the meeting website. The summit will be conducted in English and is being hosted by the Turkish Directorate General of Civil Aviation.”
What does IATA think?
Given that IATA’s World Cargo Symposium takes place in Dubai, the week after the first ICAO Global Air Cargo Summit, CFG wanted to know if this would affect IATA attendances and whether IATA had been informed in advance. Brendan Sullivan, Global Head, Cargo, at IATA, confirmed: “We are, of course, aware of the ICAO Global Air Cargo Summit and have been invited to attend, as indeed ICAO is always invited to contribute to our World Cargo Symposium (WCS). Our organizations are complementary, with different priorities, and we anticipate our events will reflect those differences. If the air cargo community finds value in ICAO’s event, then we welcome its addition to the calendar. For our part, the WCS continues to go from strength to strength with record attendances and exhibitor interest, and we expect an even more successful event this year.”
And what about TIACA?
Similar questions were put to TIACA’s Director General, Glyn Hughes, who responded: “Yes, I was aware of the ICAO event. They have been looking at holding something for a couple of years. I have been invited to make a keynote and to moderate a panel,” he offered. “There are a lot of industry events which means each of us who run events must differentiate our offering. ICAO are uniquely positioned to attract regulators and other government representatives which should provide a great platform for industry to communicate challenges and required solutions. I’m looking forward to engaging with as many state representatives as possible,” he explained. “These crucial interactions could then feed into our, TIACA Executive Summit scheduled for mid-year, and our Air Cargo Forum scheduled for November.”
Academia and UN agencies are more unique
With academia and UN agencies attending, ICAO’s event may be more successful than other industry events, in bringing agreements onto the table when it comes to regulatory frameworks and security measures. Yet, who from the air cargo industry will be attending? A mini LinkedIn Poll shows most not yet having been aware of the ICAO event, and the sheer number of cargo conferences has long been a topic of criticism. Some questioned the need for yet another one. As Henrik Ambak put it: “The calendar is now full: you can pack your suitcase right after New Year and return just in time for Christmas…and with so many conferences, no time to take action in between, which of course requires a conference of its own to discuss…”. Maurice Abondo remarked: “The IATA World Cargo Symposium will more or less be touching on the same subjects of Sustainability, Regulatory Frameworks and harmonisation of Operational Standards. Bringing Regulators to the IATA Event, all under One Roof with Airlines, GHAs, and large Forwarders, would be more impactful.”
In the interests of Sustainability
Whether the ICAO Global Air Cargo Summit will carve out a distinct niche in the conference calendar remains to be seen. (And the question of whether it will become an annual event was also left unanswered.) Its success will likely depend on its ability to deliver concrete outcomes and facilitate meaningful dialogue between regulators and industry stakeholders.
In the interests of sustainability, however, CFG agrees with Maurice Abondo’s remark. Would it not make more sense to streamline the existing and well-established events and put a greater focus on tangible results and agreements on their agendas, broadening the attendee list to attract and include academia, regulators and authority bodies?
What are your thoughts, and will you be attending?
