IAG Cargo has teamed up with Net Rates- the International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s air cargo rates distribution platform, to offer enhanced digital services and solutions to its customers who are tapping into the South African market.
The carrier has recently invested in the development of APIs to offer ‘instant access to rates and availability, facilitating real-time bookings’ to any of its destinations. “This partnership extends that commitment to its customers and through IATA Net Rates, IAG Cargo will be able to grow its reach further,” it said.
IATA Net Rates supports real-time rates distribution, dynamic pricing and booking. This is even more essential in the current crisis to ensure critical medical supplies get where they are needed when they are needed.
“We are delighted to announce this partnership,” said John Cheetham, Chief Commercial Officer at IAG Cargo. “It represents yet another step in our journey to innovate and simplify how logistics works; improving how we deliver for our customers and making it easier for them to do business with us.”
“The pandemic has accelerated the appetite for digitalisation across the air cargo industry, challenging traditional processes and setting new standards of efficiency. Signing up to IATA Net Rates is one of many ways in which we are continuing to offer customers a range of options as the industry embraces digitalisation. Giving choices to customers is part of delivering high levels of customer service, whether they choose to book via IAGCargo.com, their own system, or a third-party platform, he added.”
Cheetham continued, “Complementing our own online booking site, this is another step in our commitment to save customers valuable time and effort by eliminating manual, labour-intensive processes.”
Frederic Leger, Director Airport Passenger Cargo and Security Products IATA said, “IATA is very pleased to welcome IAG Cargo to the IATA Net Rates platform to support their efficient cargo rates distribution and booking capabilities, across the different airlines of the group. By using IATA Net Rates, IAG Cargo expands its ability to reach their customers and provide effective digital solutions for distribution and booking.”
IATA’s ‘all-in-one’ platform, to be rolled out globally, offers freight forwarders the latest information on rates, tariffs and rules that can be integrated directly into customer systems, accelerating the distribution of rates to market whilst simplifying and reducing the cost of rate handling procedures.