Comprehensive Work

Comprehensive collaboration between air cargo safety, security, and economics is essential to ensure the seamless functioning of global supply chains. Safety measures safeguard lives and assets by mitigating risks such as hazardous materials incidents, while robust security frameworks protect cargo from theft and terrorism.

Simultaneously, economic considerations ensure the sustainability and efficiency of operations, balancing regulatory compliance with cost-effectiveness. A synergistic approach among these disciplines fosters resilience, enhances trust among stakeholders, and supports the growth of the air cargo industry in a rapidly evolving global landscape. The swift growth of air cargo around the world, if adequately fostered, will benefit businesses, consumers and other end-users by supporting a robust, resilient, global supply chain. E-commerce especially has increased business opportunities for buyers and sellers in both developing and mature markets.

These efforts consist of stakeholder engagement in the development of guidance material to promote among Member States an economic regulatory framework that will facilitate market growth along with important Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) to facilitate safe, secure, and efficient air cargo operations.

This active collaboration fosters internal awareness among staff focused on different aspects of air cargo of the multitude of activities their colleagues are undertaking, as well as helps to ensure consistency with ICAO's high-level, organizational strategic objectives.

Ultimately, through effective communication and collaboration, ICAO can see and understand the bigger picture of air cargo and, therefore, be responsive to Member State needs in this dynamic international environment.

In addition to its Economic Development mission, ICAO air cargo activities support Member States' needs in:

Cargo Safety - Air cargo transports routinely and regularly dangerous goods all over the world. To guide States on how to ensure these goods do not put an aircraft and its occupants at risk, ICAO developed Annex 18, which deals with the "Safe Transport of Dangerous Good by Air". In general, it sets down broad principals, but one of the standards requires that dangerous goods are carried in accordance with the Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (the "Technical Instructions").

Cargo Security  - Persons with malicious intents may attempt to transport explosive devices in air cargo. ICAO's Annex 17 – Security  sets out standards and recommended practices (SARPs) to prevent so-called acts of unlawful interference, thereby protecting passengers, crew, ground personnel and the general public. This Annex is supplemented by the ICAO Aviation Security Manual (Doc 8973 – Restricted), providing guidance to Member States on how relevant SARPs can be implemented.