Ahead of the upcoming FIATA Region Asia-Pacific meet being held in New Delhi from 21 to 24 May, CK Govil, President, The Air Cargo Agents Association of India, which is jointly hosting the meet with FIATA shares it was the perfect time to showcase our capabilities and engage in meaningful dialogue.
CT Bureau
What inspired you to organise this global cargo event, and how do you envision it impacting the industry?
As the ACAAI President, what inspired us to host the FIATA RAP meeting in India was the opportunity to bring the global air cargo community on our soil to exchange ideas, foster innovation, and build stronger collaborations. India is rapidly emerging as a logistics hub with robust infrastructure, a growing economy and a dynamic industry. We believed it was the perfect time to showcase our capabilities. This event is more than just a meeting—it is a platform to spark transformation.
We envision it as a catalyst for regional and global collaboration, knowledge sharing, and policy discussions that can shape the future of air cargo. It is about charting new paths, embracing digitalisation, sustainability, and multimodal connectivity, and reinforcing the role of the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region in global trade.
How have you seen the sector evolve in the past few years and how will this event address those changes?
The sector has undergone a transformation in recent years. We have seen accelerated digitalisation, a heightened focus on sustainability, and a shift in trade patterns driven by geopolitical dynamics and e-commerce growth.
The pandemic was the turning point, highlighting the critical role of air cargo in ensuring supply chain continuity, especially for essentials. Post-pandemic, the emphasis has shifted toward building resilience, adopting technology such as Artificial Intelligence and blockchain, and embracing agile, multimodal logistics solutions. Regulatory frameworks are evolving, and customer expectations are becoming more demanding. This FIATA RAP event is designed to address these changes. Through focused dialogues, knowledge sessions, and collaborative networking, we aim to explore strategies for innovation, digital transformation, greener logistics, and policy alignment.
Any emerging trends in air cargo you believe will dominate the discussions?
Several emerging trends are shaping air cargo’s future and will dominate discussions at the FIATA RAP meet. First, digital transformation continues to be a central theme—with AI, blockchain, and data-driven logistics enhancing visibility, efficiency, and security. E-commerce growth is pushing the industry to become faster and agile. Second, there is an emphasis on sustainability and green logistics. Stakeholders are exploring carbon-neutral operations, sustainable fuel, and cleaner ground handling processes. Third, multimodal integration is becoming a priority. The ability to connect air, sea, road, and rail is key to meeting today’s global trade demands—especially in the Asia-Pacific region. Resilience and risk management in the face of global disruptions, be it pandemic, conflicts, or supply chain bottlenecks, will be at the forefront. This RAP field meeting is the perfect stage to delve into these trends, share international best practices, and explore strategies to prepare our industry for what lies ahead.
What do you hope attendees will take away in terms of networking or collaboration opportunities?
One of the greatest strengths of the FIATA RAP meeting is its power to connect minds from across the globe. I hope attendees leave with not just insights, but meaningful relationships, built on shared goals and a collective vision for the air cargo future. This RAP meeting provides a platform for dialogue between industry leaders, regulators, technology providers, and forwarders. I hope attendees see India as a willing and capable partner in global logistics—a country that is open, innovative, and ready to co-create solutions to drive the next wave of transformation in the indus ry. Networking at this event is not about exchanging business cards, it is about planting the seeds of future partnerships that can shape global trade’s direction.
What advice do you have for smaller and emerging firms looking to collaborate with industry giants?
My suggestion to smaller and emerging companies is simple: Be bold, be innovative, and stay committed to excellence. In today’s interconnected logistics ecosystem, size matters less than value. If you can offer agility, niche expertise, digital capabilities, or local insights, larger players will see the value in partnering with you. Focus on building credibility through consistent service, transparency,
and technology adoption.
How do you see partnerships between airports, airlines and logistics providers evolving to improve efficiency?
The future of cargo efficiency lies in seamless collaboration between airports, airlines, and logistics providers. These partnerships are evolving from transactional ties to integrated, strategic alliances focused on end-to-end visibility, speed, and resilience. We are seeing a push toward digital linkage with stakeholders sharing data in real-time to reduce bottlenecks, optimise capacity, and improve handling. Cargo community systems, AI-driven forecasting, and automated warehousing are all examples of digital synergy. Joint initiatives around green corridors, alternative fuels, and carbon offset programmes are possible through collaboration across the chain. Airports are positioning themselves as logistics hubs, partnering with airlines and forwarders to streamline customs, expand infra, and create multimodal linkages. These partnerships will redefine efficiency, not in terms of speed or cost, but in terms of resilience, adaptability, and sustainability in an evolving trade environment.
