Wedoany.com Report on Mar 13th, The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has recently launched three initiatives to promote the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the air cargo sector, aiming to enhance operational efficiency, strengthen safety and compliance, and drive innovation across the global air cargo value chain.

IATA has released an AI Subject Matter Expert (AI SME) application, a mobile and web app that allows operational teams to quickly retrieve information from IATA's cargo and safety publications by asking simple questions. This tool can provide accurate answers within seconds, helping to accelerate decision-making, strengthen compliance, and improve efficiency in time-sensitive environments. Initially, the AI SME will be applicable to the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations and Cargo Handling Manual, with plans to gradually extend to other reference publications in the future.

IATA has also established an Air Cargo AI Center of Excellence, bringing together airlines, ground handlers, freight forwarders, technology providers, and regulators to promote the orderly integration of AI in air cargo. The center will foster collaboration in areas such as governance and compliance, share experiences, and develop deployment standards.

Regarding the improvement of interline air cargo, IATA and its strategic partners are exploring the potential of AI to enhance efficiency. The parties will collaborate to develop use cases, enabling airlines using different IT systems to achieve system interoperability through AI agents and collaborate in real-time on bookings, disruptions, and cancellations. This initiative is part of the Data and Technology Proof-of-Concept within the Strategic Partnership Program.

Brendan Sullivan, IATA's Global Head of Cargo, stated: "The scope for AI to accelerate the digital transformation of air cargo is vast. Together, these initiatives will help unlock AI's potential, ensuring consistency in industry adoption, interoperability, and alignment with global aviation standards. Importantly, we will learn from these initiatives to identify other areas where standards, technological innovation, and collaboration can achieve safer, smarter, and more efficient operations."