The event took place in Turkey.
First ICAO Global Air Cargo Summit. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Tolga Karadeniz)
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has convened its inaugural Global Air Cargo Summit in Antalya, Turkey, this week, drawing together prominent leaders from regulatory bodies, international organizations, and the private sector to navigate the evolving landscape of air cargo. The three-day summit is tackling the most pressing challenges and opportunities confronting the air freight industry.
Held under the auspices of ICAO and Türkiye’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the summit has seen the participation of key figures including ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar, World Customs Organization Secretary General Ian Saunders, former IATA Chair Mehmet Nane, and high-ranking Turkish officials such as General Director of Civil Aviation Prof. Dr. Kemal Yuksek.
AirlineGeeks is on the ground, providing comprehensive coverage of the discussions shaping global cargo aviation policy and operations.
The summit’s opening day featured strong calls for greater liberalization of air cargo markets and the dismantling of regulatory hurdles impeding global freight movement. Participants engaged in debates on how bilateral and multilateral air service agreements could be adapted to better accommodate the operational flexibility required by cargo carriers. Executives from Qatar Airways, DHL, and MNG Airlines joined negotiators from the U.K., Brazil, and ASEAN.
The increasing dominance of e-commerce emerged as another central theme. As global retail continues its shift online, speakers from Silk Way West Airlines, FIATA, Boeing, and the Universal Postal Union explored the ways in which air cargo carriers are adapting to the demands of rapid, reliable, and increasingly digital cross-border logistics. Emphasis was placed on the growing significance of data-sharing platforms, digital customs clearance processes, and predictive technologies to meet real-time fulfillment expectations.
Infrastructure capacity and efficiency also received significant attention. Representatives from Kale Logistics, Maersk Air Cargo, Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals, and airport authorities in Nigeria and Italy spoke candidly about the urgent need for modernized ground handling, harmonized standards, and increased private investment in freight facilities to keep pace with the sector’s robust growth.
Tolga Karadeniz and ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar (right) at the Global Air Cargo Summit in Antalya.
(Photo: AirlineGeeks | Tolga Karadeniz)
The second day of the summit saw conversations pivoted toward the transformative technologies impacting the industry. During a panel focused on e-commerce and innovation, the development of future-ready logistics networks was showcased, encompassing topics ranging from drones and autonomous systems to digital air waybills and AI-powered forecasting. Speakers from DRONAMICS, Hitit, and the UN Economic Commission for Europe highlighted the growing convergence of aviation, fintech, and data science in reshaping cargo delivery models.
The crucial role of customs and regulatory facilitation remained high on the agenda. In a session moderated by African Civil Aviation Commission Secretary General Adefunke Adeyemi, officials from ICAO, WCO, and leading cargo carriers discussed strategies to streamline cargo release and clearance while ensuring robust compliance and security. Panelists stressed the imperative for deeper international cooperation and data harmonization to expedite trade and reduce associated costs.
Digitization remained a recurring and prominent theme throughout the day, particularly in the context of automation. Stakeholders from the World Customs Organization, FIATA, Nigeria’s aviation training academy, and Turkish carrier MNG Airlines advocated for urgent progress in achieving paperless cargo processing and the global adoption of interoperable IT systems, citing potential improvements in transparency, compliance, and operational speed.
The summit is scheduled to conclude on April 11, with panels dedicated to exploring sustainable development goals within the cargo sector and the roadmap for post-pandemic resilience and modernization. High-level speakers from ICAO, UNCTAD, and key airline and logistics players are expected to address critical topics such as decarbonization, green logistics, and global supply chain resilience.
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