The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is advancing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in air cargo through three initiatives aimed at improving operational efficiency, strengthening safety and compliance, and accelerating innovation across the global value chain.

To make access to information more efficient, IATA is launching an AI Subject Matter Expert (AI SME), a mobile and web‑based tool that allows operational teams to query IATA cargo and safety publications in plain language and receive accurate answers within seconds, supporting faster decision‑making in time‑critical environments.

The AI SME will first cover the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) and the IATA Cargo Handling Manual (ICHM), with additional publications to follow.

To facilitate industry collaboration, IATA is also establishing the Air Cargo AI Excellence Hub, bringing together airlines, ground handlers, freight forwarders, technology providers and regulators to share best practices, align on governance and compliance, and support the responsible integration of AI.

In addition, IATA and its Strategic Partners are exploring how AI can improve interline air cargo by enabling airlines operating on different IT systems to collaborate in real time on bookings, disruptions and cancellations, using AI agents to achieve system interoperability.

IATA said this initiative is part of the Data & Technology Proof of Concept (PoC) area in the Strategic Partnerships Program.

"The scope for AI to accelerate air cargo’s digital transformation is enormous. Together, these initiatives will help to make the most of AI's potential with an industry adoption that is consistent, interoperable, and aligned with global aviation standards," said Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s Global Head of Cargo. 

"Importantly, we will learn from these initiatives to identify additional areas where standards, technological innovation, and collaborative development can enable safer, smarter, and more efficient operations," he added.