FIATA jumps on air cargo liberalization bandwagon

FIATA jumps on air cargo liberalization bandwagon The International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) has added its support behind making liberalization of all-cargo flights the catalyst to rekindle negotiations between the United States and the European Union.
   In May, the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) wrote letters to the U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, and Jacques Barrot, vice president of the European Commission with responsibility for transport, asking both governments to look upon air cargo as the natural “first step” in the process towards the full realization of a single open market for aviation between and within the EU and the United States.
   'The opening up of the skies for freighter operations between the EU and USA will effectively eradicate the last hurdles in fostering a new area of economic opportunities, not only for the freight logistics industry, but a liberalized competitive environment for shippers and consumers,' said Issa Baluch, president of FIATA.
   “Such a historic agreement between the EU and USA, being the largest aviation markets will, undoubtedly, set the example for other regional blocks and other countries to follow suit,' Baluch added.
   FIATA is a non-governmental organization that represents approximately 40,000 forwarding and logistics firms around the world.