Cathay Pacific Cargo, in partnership with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), has embarked on a groundbreaking pilot program set to revolutionize the future of intermodal shipments. The epicenter of this transformative collaboration is the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) Logistics Park in Dongguan, a strategic location within the Greater Bay Area (GBA).
This pioneering initiative introduces IATA’s ONE Record data protocols, promising to redefine the logistics landscape. Notably, the collaboration signifies a significant milestone by offering ONE Record data protocols for sea-to-air shipments, encompassing vital security status updates and cargo acceptance beyond the origin airport’s cargo terminal.
At the core of this groundbreaking project is IATA’s ONE Record initiative, a system designed to usher in end-to-end transparency for consignments as they traverse the complex web of supply chain links. It facilitates real-time tracking and progress monitoring from the shipper to the agent, airline, warehouse, and even customs authorities, while adhering to IATA’s meticulously crafted API protocols. These protocols enable secure data sharing, a crucial step in advancing cargo shipment efficiency and security.
Tom Owen, Director of Cargo at Cathay, expressed excitement about this pioneering pilot scheme, highlighting Cathay Cargo’s trailblazing role in digitalizing systems to prepare for ONE Record’s full-scale implementation in 2026. He emphasized how ONE Record opens up new possibilities, such as introducing services like Ultra Track, and enables various use cases yet to be fully explored. This project also demonstrated ONE Record’s flexibility by accepting cargo from an upstream cargo terminal and logging its sea journey, achieving an unprecedented milestone.
The state-of-the-art Cathay Cargo Terminal facility in Dongguan played a pivotal role in the project’s success, offering innovative solutions and technology poised to benefit all stakeholders involved in intermodal cargo operations within the GBA.
The pilot scheme witnessed air-cargo shipments destined for Bangkok, Manila, and Tokyo, originating from forwarder Yusen Logistics, being accepted at the Cathay Cargo Terminal in Dongguan. This marked a significant milestone, registering acceptance at this location within the ONE Record system. As the bonded shipments were unloaded for export at HKIA, the system generated data notices to signify these crucial developments. From that point, the shipments embarked on a journey that triggered the standard ONE Record shipment milestones, culminating in their collection by the eventual consignees.
Yusen Logistics had real-time visibility into this process by accessing their one-stop digital cargo-management system, EzyCargo™. The user-friendly interface, developed by Global Logistics System (GLS) HK Co Ltd, a pioneer in IATA ONE Record technologies, played a vital role in tracking the cargo’s journey.
Cyrus Chan, Manager of the Air Freight Forwarding Division at Yusen, pointed out the immense potential of ONE Record in enhancing collaboration among supply chain stakeholders, particularly for shipments originating from the GBA. It promises to elevate visibility for their customers, and ONE Record is well on its way to becoming the global standard.
This pilot scheme underscores the effectiveness and transparency of the IATA ONE Record protocol. Its dynamic approach is set to expand options for air-cargo shipments originating from Dongguan and, once fully established, from other origin points within the GBA, which is considered Cathay Cargo’s extended home market.
Max Xie, Regional Vice President North Asia for IATA, extended his congratulations to Cathay Cargo, Airport Authority Hong Kong, and other partners for the successful pilot. He highlighted how this initiative elevates ONE Record to a new level, demonstrating the protocol’s efficacy in supporting the intermodal transport of cargo. When fully implemented, this will further strengthen Hong Kong’s status as a key air-cargo hub.
Cissy Chan, Executive Director, Commercial at AAHK, also shared her enthusiasm for this collaborative endeavor, emphasizing the importance of digitalization in enhancing operational efficiency within today’s complex supply chain landscape. She pledged that AAHK will continue to leverage the community-based HKIA Cargo Data Platform to drive digital transformation, solidifying HKIA’s position as a leading smart aviation hub.
