UPU and IATA strengthen cooperation

04.12.2014 - The Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have renewed their partnership to increase the safety and efficiency of airmail transport.

Posts and airlines are working closely together to ensure mail security and efficiency

UPU Director General Bishar A. Hussein and IATA Director General and CEO Tony Tyler signed a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect in Berne, Switzerland, on 3 November 2014.  IATA is a trade association consisting of about 240 of the world’s airlines.

 

The agreement forms a solid platform to launch joint initiatives and brings the postal and air transport agendas closer together.

Safe, secure and efficient

“Endorsing and promoting safety and security in postal air transport is one of the key issues in the new agreement. Growing international parcel traffic, driven by e-commerce, is set to create major challenges for Posts and air transport operators alike,” said Akhilesh Mathur, the UPU’s supply chain coordinator.

 

Better cooperation in these areas is key to improving service levels for both organizations, as Posts continue to count on the airlines to provide fast and reliable services.

 

Under the MoU, the UPU and IATA will also continue to work on automating processes for the exchange of electronic data related to mail transport. This will eliminate redundancies in the submission of necessary information, saving time and reducing costs.

 

Both organizations will also continue to work on developing guidelines and training programmes for the handling and reporting of mail and the implementation of more efficient settlement procedures relating to mail transport.

 

The November UPU–IATA agreement replaces the one signed in March 2007. UPU–IATA relations date back to 1956, when the first contact committee was established. The committee – the main contact point between the two organizations –  will continue its work under the new MoU, seeking operational synergies and systems integration.

 

The year 2014 marks the 140th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union as well as the 100th anniversary of the first commercial flight. 

Source : http://news.upu.int/