Every week, CargoForwarder Global’s ‘Spotlight On…’ highlights a specific aspect of the air cargo industry as an illustration of just how many functions are involved in global air freight logistics. Aside from the physical aspect of building up and moving shipments, there are also a multitude of regulatory frameworks influencing the flow of global cargo. The International Air Transport Association, IATA for short, is the global trade association representing a major segment of the aviation/air cargo industry and works to establish global standards and provide guidance on making cargo transportation safer, more efficient, and able to travel more smoothly across borders. The latter part in particular, falls under the responsibility this week’s Spotlight candidate, Christian Piaget (CP), Head of Cargo Border Management at IATA.
CFG: What is your current function and company? And what are your responsibilities?
CP: I am Head of Cargo Border Management at IATA, the global trade association representing the world’s airlines. In this role, I oversee efforts to ensure the smooth and secure movement of air cargo across borders. This includes leading work on customs and security issues affecting air freight, driving regulatory compliance and advocacy, and guiding the development and implementation of international standards. I also supervise the IATA industry groups dedicated to these customs and security matters. In addition, I am responsible for cargo claims – not for resolving individual cases (as a trade association, IATA does not intervene in or influence legal disputes), but for developing best practices and guidance to help the industry enhance its claims management processes.
CFG: What does a normal day look like for you?
CP: My days are an exciting mix of urgencies that require immediate attention and long‑term strategies to shape and execute. Urgencies are situations where international standards and industry best practices are challenged and require action which can range from informal recommendations to formal escalations with national governments or international bodies such as the European Commission, the World Customs Organization, ICAO, etc. There seems to be always a place in the world where such challenges occur. In parallel, I work on long‑term priorities: improving or developing new industry standards, maintaining IATA publications and training, and preparing for meetings with regulators worldwide.
CFG: How long have you been in the air cargo industry, and what brought you to it?
CP: I have been in air cargo for almost 13 years now and in international transport for almost three decades. After a Master in Law in Switzerland, where I developed a keen interest in international rules, I began my career in Geneva in international road transport, which introduced me to the central role of Customs in cross‑border trade. After 10 years, I joined the maritime sector in Brussels, where I contributed to shaping the security provisions of the EU Customs Code and the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards. During that work, I regularly interacted with IATA, as our interests often aligned. When I decided to return to my hometown of Geneva, the opportunity to join IATA Headquarters felt like a natural next step.
CFG: What do you enjoy most about your job?
CP: The people – without hesitation. Every morning, I still find it amazing to be able to have a coffee with colleagues literally originating from every corner of the world. I also love the opportunity to work with a wide variety of professionals: government officials from the 5 continents, compliance experts from 360 airlines and other supply chain actors, lawyers, technology providers, etc. Such cultural exposure to the rest of the world is something I had not even dreamed of when starting my career.
CFG: Where do you see the greatest challenges in our industry?
CP: In this industry in general, there are many challenges: supply-chain constraints and aircraft availability, decarbonization, geopolitical volatility, cybersecurity, etc. But specifically in my field, I see two main challenges: resistance to change and policy fragmentation. Concerning resistance to change, we must remain agile as regulatory expectations evolve rapidly. The rise of e‑commerce, for example, has profoundly reshaped traditional supply chain structures. Adapting without diluting responsibilities or legal liabilities is essential. As for policy fragmentation, I find the growing lack of regulatory alignment across countries and the disregard of international governance deeply concerning. Rules and principles that I thought were a given when I started my career, are now thrown away without any second thought. Air cargo depends on predictable, harmonized rules. Agility is important, but without clarity on the direction of travel, the industry is navigating with a blurred windscreen.
CFG: What advice would you give to people looking to get into the air cargo industry?
CP: My entry into air cargo was not planned. It unfolded naturally through my interest in international trade. For those passionate about aviation, my advice is to stay curious and connected. Keep up with industry developments and seek real‑world exposure whenever possible.
Specifically on training, IATA offers a wide array of training programs across aviation disciplines, which are excellent entry points for networking, learning, and identifying your niche. It can also help make yourself known. Again, this industry is above all about people. Finally, initiatives such as the IATA Future Air Cargo Executives (FACE) program can also serve as valuable springboards. Fundamentally, choose the field that resonates most with you. For me, it was trade facilitation, but for others it could be sustainability, digitalization, etc. Finally, do not get fixated on one specific sector: I enjoyed working for road and maritime as much as I do for air, now.
CFG: If the air cargo industry were a film/book, what would its title be?
CP: I love the WCO motto “Borders divide, Customs connect”. So, in the same spirit, I propose “Between Borders and Horizons”. This speaks to the dual nature of my work: navigating regulatory borders while connecting distant parts of the world.
Thank you, Christian!
If you would like to share your personal air cargo story with our CargoForwarder Global readers, feel free to send your answers to the above questions to cargoforwarderglobal@kopfpilot.at We look forward to shining a spotlight on your job area, views, and experiences.
