Policy & Compliance
Air cargo industry prepares for One Record standard
The air cargo industry is approaching a decisive deadline, with IATA’s One Record becoming the preferred standard for data exchange from 1 January 2026. With less than four months remaining, the sector must transition from long-standing discussions on digitalisation to full-scale implementation. One Record aims to replace the fragmented patchwork of messaging standards still in use by providing a single, shared source of information across airlines, freight forwarders, ground handlers, and regulators. The benefits include fewer errors, less manual processing, faster communication, reduction of delays and enhanced disruption management. For shippers, freight forwarders and airlines, One Record is more than a compliance requirement. Customers increasingly expect real-time visibility, and supply chains are now judged on resilience and transparency as much as speed and cost. Successful adoption of One Record will therefore be essential for maintaining competitiveness in a rapidly evolving market. Among these benefits, challenges lie ahead. For example, smaller freight forwarders and ground handlers face stretched resources and limited IT capacity, while larger players must align systems across multiple partners operating at different levels of preparedness. Additionally, a cultural shift towards data sharing remains a hurdle, with trust and cybersecurity playing a central role. The coming months will require strong collaboration, clear guidance, and support from trusted IT partners capable of bridging legacy systems and ensuring robust cybersecurity. CLECAT will continue to follow the implementation closely, given its significant impact on freight forwarders across Europe. To support stakeholders in this transition, IATA has published a practical implementation guide, available here . Reproduced from the CLECAT Newsletter, 19 September 2025
from individual customers or their respective insurers, Insurers shall pay such sums accordingly.” In such circumstances, emphasis is on the freight forwarder or NVOCC to pass the demand immediately to its customer and ensure that it obtains the relevant bond or guarantee to cover the costs associated with the speci fi c GA or salvage claim. Ensure the correct insurance cover is in place The process can become problematic for a BCO who does not have cargo insurance in place. It is estimated that the majority of consignments are transported through the global supply chain without cargo insurance, but standard marine cargo insurance policies do cover the costs associated with GA losses. In the event of a GA loss, the cargo insurer will typically take over the process for the BCO, ensuring that the required securities are placed, and that the cargo will be released at destination. Where cargo insurance is not in place, it falls to the BCO to respond to the request and provide suf fi cient security. In such circumstances, the BCO should not ignore the request; it is prudent to act quickly to resolve the matter and arrange security. Failure to do so will result in the
cargo being held from release at the destination port, with the risk that a lien is held over the cargo to satisfy the due costs. In order to protect BIFA Members, the 2025 edition of the BIFA STC deals with the situation where a Member fi nds itself liable for a GA or salvage claim for contribution. The client is required to indemnify the BIFA Member for any liability. Primarily this is because liability for the GA contribution should fall on the cargo owner who is the party responsible for arranging the relevant cover from its cargo insurer. Clause 22 of the BIFA STC clearly places responsibility on the customer for promptly providing proper security for goods subject to GA. Conclusion While infrequent, the risk of GA losses should not be overlooked. It is prudent to ensure that the relevant cargo insurance is in place – the costs following a GA incident can be signi fi cant. The fi nal GA demand in a recent case exceeded 60% of contributory values. As GA is something that will be encountered infrequently, it is important to ensure that Members have a clear understanding of the process and their general responsibilities. Also, Members should fully understand requests being made of them and the repercussions should the process not be followed.
“ One Record aims to replace the fragmented patchwork of messaging standards still in use by providing a single, shared source of information across airlines, freight forwarders, ground handlers, and regulators
November 2025 | 21
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