Why standardisation is critical for global air cargo integrity

Air cargo is the invisible infrastructure that keeps global trade moving for high-value and time-sensitive products. But in an industry built on speed and precision, one persistent flaw continues to undermine performance: the lack of standardised systems and processes across airports.

Pharmaceuticals, fresh produce, vaccines, semiconductors, and electronics often rely on fast, controlled, and predictable movement between continents. A shipment may begin its journey at a modern, CEIV-certified hub with automated handling and end-to-end visibility. Yet if the receiving airport relies on manual paperwork, has limited cold chain capacity, or uses outdated cargo management software, product integrity can be compromised. For temperature-sensitive shipments, the risks range from spoilage to complete loss. For time-critical cargo, delays in customs clearance or ground handling can disrupt entire supply chains.

This challenge is not about one or two underperforming airports. It is about systemic misalignment across the global network. While hubs in Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia have invested heavily in advanced infrastructure, many airports in emerging markets are still catching up.

Liège Airport in Belgium, a key European gateway for e-commerce and pharmaceuticals, has seen both sides of the equation. “We encounter infrastructure gaps when coordinating with overseas partner airports, particularly in areas such as digital integration, cold chain capability, and multimodal access,” said Frédéric Brun, Head of Commercial Cargo & Logistics at Liège. “Our systems offer full shipment visibility and predictive operations, but many partner airports still rely on legacy systems or lack comparable facilities.”

Liège has invested in digital tools such as LGG TRACKING, which offers real-time cargo monitoring and disruption forecasting, and operates CEIV-compliant pharma zones and a large airside e-commerce terminal with 24/7 freighter access. Yet, as Brun notes, even the most advanced hub cannot compensate for weak points at the other end of the route.

The cold chain is among the most vulnerable areas. Maintaining strict temperature control from origin to destination is non-negotiable for cargo like vaccines, biologics, and high-value perishables. A lapse of even a few minutes during unloading or storage can lead to irreversible damage. “Variations in cold chain capabilities, digital customs processes, and terminal operations can impact the consistency of cargo flows—especially for temperature-sensitive or time-critical shipments,” said Dirk Goovaerts, Swissport’s CEO for Continental Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India.

Closer alignment starts with digitisation and collaboration
Dirk Goovaerts, Swissport

Some advanced airports offer direct apron access to temperature-controlled facilities, real-time monitoring, and rapid transfer procedures. Others may depend on ambient storage or manual checks, increasing the risk of temperature excursions.

Digital customs clearance is another major bottleneck. The industry has made progress with tools like electronic air waybills (e-AWBs), real-time clearance systems, and community platforms that connect stakeholders. But adoption remains inconsistent. Even technologically advanced hubs can face delays when partner airports continue to rely on paper-based systems or operate without interoperable platforms.

IATA has pushed for wider use of ONE Record, a standard for data sharing, and CEIV Pharma and CEIV Fresh certifications for specialised handling. But these remain voluntary, and implementation is uneven across regions.

“The inconsistencies in global standards—whether in cold chain protocols, digital clearance, or terminal operations—create serious challenges for cargo customers,” said Torsten Wefers, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Liège Airport. “We’ve designed our systems to absorb these disparities on our end, but there’s a limit to what one airport can do alone.”

Liège’s approach is to extend its operational strengths to weaker partners through tools like LGG TRACKING and customised handling solutions. “Instead of viewing this as a mismatch, we focus on bridging the gap,” said Brun. “Through tools like LGG TRACKING and tailored handling solutions, we help extend our efficiency to less digitised or lower-capacity airports.”

The inconsistencies in global standards create serious challenges for cargo customers 
Torsten Wefers, Liège Airport

Swissport is also working on global alignment. As one of the largest ground handlers, it operates across diverse airport environments, from major European hubs to smaller facilities in Africa and Asia-Pacific. Through partnerships and joint ventures, Swissport is upgrading infrastructure in locations such as Nairobi, Basel, and Auckland, focusing on perishables and pharma handling. “Closer alignment starts with digitisation and collaboration,” said Goovaerts. “We champion automated material handling, digital documentation, and online visibility platforms that bring all stakeholders together.”

Beyond airside operations, the integration of air cargo into multimodal networks is another area where harmonisation is lacking. Airports like Liège and Singapore have developed logistics corridors that link air, road, and rail transport for faster transfers. Elsewhere, limited road access, lack of direct rail links, or poor coordination with trucking operators create delays that negate the speed advantage of air freight.

Industry leaders agree that improving individual airports in isolation will not be enough. The solution lies in treating infrastructure as a network-wide challenge. This means creating and adopting global standards for handling procedures, technology integration, and operational performance. It also means encouraging public-private partnerships to fund upgrades, incentivising certification, and using digital collaboration platforms to connect stakeholders across continents.

We recognize that different stages of infrastructure development may impact cargo synchronization
Frédéric Brun, Liège Airport

The benefits of standardisation go beyond product safety and delivery speed. Harmonised systems can improve predictability, reduce operational costs, and make cargo flows more resilient to disruptions. With greater visibility across the chain, operators can plan capacity more accurately, reroute shipments in real time, and respond faster to weather, strikes, or geopolitical events.

For shippers, especially those moving high-value or regulated goods, the stakes are high. A single delay at customs, a temperature deviation on the tarmac, or a missed connection due to mismatched handling procedures can lead to financial losses and reputational damage.

Global trade depends on the reliability of its transport networks, and air cargo is no exception. Inconsistent capabilities across airports undermine the trust that shippers place in the system. As demand grows—driven by e-commerce, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing—the industry’s ability to deliver on its promises will depend on closing these gaps.

The message from both operators and handlers is clear: standardisation is not an optional improvement; it is a strategic necessity. Without it, every point of weakness has the potential to turn a local problem into a global failure.

Because in today’s interconnected supply chains, product integrity in transit is not determined by where the shipment starts but by how well the entire network works together to bring it home.

This article was originally published in the STAT Trade Times' August 2025 issue.