The International Air Transport Association’s Cargo 2000 interest group has rebranded as Cargo iQ and added five members.

The new members are Emirates SkyCargo, Brussels Airport, Frankfurt Airport, Vienna Airport and CargoAware.

Apart from the rebrand, the group has also introduced a Smart Data project and an audit and certification scheme.

“Cargo iQ members work together to measure success and continuously improve the value of air freight for customers,” said Ariaen Zimmerman, executive director of Cargo iQ [left in photo], announcing the rebrand at the IATA World Cargo Symposium in Berlin. “We have successfully developed a system with clear milestones and unique route maps, and thanks to our reliable monitoring, members can improve their services to customers. Our new Smart Data Project will add 110 million lines of performance data annually, allowing our members to further improve their processes and adding more value to the air cargo industry. We are excited to embark on this next chapter of our work, which benefits the whole industry, with innovative ideas and new members. Having the biggest air cargo carrier on the planet amongst our new members just adds to that excitement.”

Nabil Sultan, divisional senior vice president of cargo at Emirates [right in photo], said that he was delighted to become a member of Cargo iQ because its mission aligns with SkyCargo’s commitments to its customers.

“We have been following Cargo iQ’s development over the years and are impressed with the solid initiatives it has developed, including the Master Operating Plan, which was conceptualized to support the implementation of quality management processes and metrics,” said Sultan. “With the rebranding of Cargo iQ and the launch of their strategic transformation programme, we felt that the time was right to become a member. We look forward to making meaningful contributions to the group as well as learning from fellow members to further improve our own quality-assurance programme.”

According to the carrier, it will appoint Henrik Ambak, senior vice president for Emirates’ worldwide cargo operations, to the Cargo iQ board. It will also incorporate the Master Operating Plan into its own shipment-management process.

According to Cargo iQ, it measured about 10 million airport-to-airport and 5.5 million door-to-door shipments in 2015, enabling its members to identify areas where quality needed to improve.

Cargo iQ will implement a new audit and certification scheme to give the Cargo iQ Quality Management System certification higher international recognition, according to the group.