Qatar Airways Cargo has become the first carrier to fully adopt and implement the International Air Transport Association’s new messaging standard, Cargo Extensible Mark-up Language.

“We are proud to be the first carrier to complete the adoption of Cargo-XML messaging standards mandated by IATA,” said Ulrich Ogiermann, chief officer of cargo at Qatar Airways. “Qatar Airways is already at the forefront, collaborating with IATA on other such initiatives. With the implementation of this new messaging standard, we are now able to offer numerous benefits to our partners in the supply chain including customers and regulatory authorities who have adopted Cargo-XML.”

Cargo-XML is IATA’s new preferred standard for electronic communication in the air cargo industry. It modernizes the old Cargo Interchange Message Procedures standard, offering better data quality, simpler data interchange and lower transmission and maintenance costs.

“With the adoption of Cargo-XML Qatar Airways is bringing the freight industry one step closer to achieving messaging standardization on a global scale,” said Glyn Hughes, global head of cargo at IATA. “Achieving alignment across the industry – IATA’s goal – not only facilitates trade growth and improves cargo security, it also helps to ensure that the millions of tonnes of air cargo transported annually from medicines to crucial electronic components reach the consumer more easily.”