IATA has set out three vital steps that are needed for the full digital standardisation of the global air cargo business by its deadline of January 2026.

The 18th World Cargo Symposium, being held in Dubai, set out the aviation body’s intention to have One Record established globally within the next year.

The industry body says One Record will become the industry standard for “end-to-end digital data exchange”, supporting improved efficiency, compliance, and transparency.

To accelerate industry adoption IATA said it is vital that three things must happen:

• airlines and forwarders must press ahead with implementation;
• governments must recognise ONE Record in regulatory data filing requirements;
• and developers need to build secure, open, and compatible digital platforms.

Brendan Sullivan, IATA global head of cargo, said: “ONE Record is a foundational shift in how we share, manage, and trust data across the supply chain.

“Airlines representing 72% of global air waybill volume are on track to implement it. More than 100 IT providers and 10,000 freight forwarders are already aligned.

“To achieve full value, implementation must accelerate across all stakeholders, and governments must recognize ONE Record in their regulatory frameworks.”