PANALPINA QUITS CARGO 2000

PANALPINA QUITS CARGO 2000    Panalpina has decided to quit the Cargo 2000 industry group of airlines and forwarding companies.
   Established within the International Air Transport Association, Cargo 2000 was founded in 1997 to increase efficiency and jointly develop and implement processes, standards and a uniform data platform for the conventional airfreight industry.
   However, Panalpina said that “no further progress has been made with optimizing handling procedures, with the barcoding project or with electronic data exchange” by Cargo 2000 over the past year.
   Commenting on the industry group’s plan to open itself to additional members, Panalpina said that there is a risk that further delays will occur. Panalpina would then “have to accept the lowest common denominator when defining and attaining objectives,” said Robert Frei, chief operating officer and director of Panalpina’s air division.
   Panalpina said it plans to implement elements of the Cargo 2000 handling processes, such as route planning and shipment flow control, outside the industry group.
   Last December, Cargo 2000 decided to scrap its plan for developing a standard information technology network to link the air cargo industry.