EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Read our exclusive interview “ICAO: Air Cargo services, new technologies, and e-commerce” with Mr. Cortney Robinson, Air Transport Officer, Air Cargo, The International Civil Aviation Organization In this interview, Mr. Robinson will tell us more about the growing relationship between air cargo services, new technologies and ICAO’s work in the field of digital commerce.

The 2024 ICAO Innovation Fair "Digital Aviation: the Future is Now" took place in March in Canada. Can you tell us more about this event and why and how it relates to digital technologies? 

New opportunities are emerging in the global market in e-commerce. 80% of cross-border e-commerce is transported by air. Annually, $5 trillion worth of goods are transported by air, and 131 billion parcels are delivered, a number expected to double by 2026. By 2040, it is estimated that 95% of all purchases will be made through e-commerce. The e-commerce business cannot flourish without air cargo services and with emerging technologies like unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), this relationship is bound to grow closer. 

The theme of the 2024 ICAO Innovation Fair was "Digital Aviation: the Future is Now" and will be held over three days. The Fair allowed for representatives of States, international organizations, industry, private sector, academia, aviation research, United Nations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to have substantive conversations on innovation in aviation and how to adjust systems, processes, structures to better ensure future innovation brings value for aviation and its contribution to States achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

In your opinion, what are the key regulatory and operational challenges that need to be addressed to drive the growth and full liberalization of air cargo and e-commerce?

The key challenges are:

1. Outdated market access regulations—flexibility for car cargo services, air carrier ownership and control, and competition policy—are the most significant challenges;

2. Proliferation of discriminatory taxes on international air transport vis-à-vis other modes in some countries the revenue for aviation investments;

3. States lacking modernized aviation infrastructure;

4. Overall connectivity of airports, whether in terms of their direct links with local business centres and communities, or their unique role as multi-modal transport hubs;

5. The security and also the safety of air cargo services, in addition to the supply chain.

How can this particular forum contribute to finding solutions to these challenges?

The 2024 Innovation Fair welcomed start-ups, academia and research centres to share their experience regarding the experimentation and development of innovative digital technologies or services for aviation. In particular, the finalists of the ICAO Innovation Competition were invited to present their innovative ideas.