Shaping the Future of Air Cargo: ACSA CEO Mpumi Mpofu at the ICAO Global Air Cargo Summit

Airports Company South Africa CEO, Ms Mpumi Mpofu, recently participated in a thought-provoking panel discussion at the inaugural ICAO Global Air Cargo Summit held in Antalya, Türkiye on Thursday, 10 April 2025. Her contributions underscored ACSA's strategic vision for a more agile, connected, and sustainable air cargo ecosystem.

ACSA EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF CARGO COMMUNITY SYSTEMS

“ACSA believes that innovative infrastructure developments are transforming air cargo efficiency. Crucially, the development of specialized cargo precincts enables optimized layouts, dedicated handling facilities, and better integration with other transport modes. ACSA also emphasizes the importance of Cargo Community Systems (CCS) for revolutionizing information flow, enhancing collaboration among stakeholders, and accelerating cargo processing, and advocates for wider CCS adoption,” said Ms Mpofu.

GOVERNMENTS SHOULD SIMPLIFY DATA REQUIREMENTS FOR CARGO DOCUMENTATION

Ms Mpofu also emphasized the need for governments to play a more enabling role in cargo facilitation: “Governments should also work towards simplifying and standardizing data requirements for cargo documentation, reducing the complexity and variety of documents required for cross-border trade. Promoting the use of electronic documentation and data exchange, in line with international standards, can further streamline processes and reduce paperwork."

She added, "Enhancing cooperation and information sharing among customs authorities, through bilateral and multilateral agreements, can facilitate the exchange of best practices and promote mutual recognition of procedures. And, investing in capacity building and technical assistance for developing countries can help to ensure that they have the necessary resources and expertise to implement harmonized procedures effectively.”

AIR CARGO FACES PROMISING OPPORTUNITIES AND SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES

“Looking ahead, the air cargo industry faces both promising opportunities and significant challenges in the next decade. Opportunities include the continued growth of e-commerce, the increasing demand for specialized cargo such as pharmaceuticals and perishables, and the potential of emerging technologies like drones and autonomous aircraft.

However, the industry also faces challenges such as increasing competition, rising fuel costs, environmental concerns, and the need to adapt to evolving customer expectations,” Ms Mpofu shared.

Preparing for Future Cargo Trends

“To prepare for Air Cargo future trends, stakeholders should invest in digitalization and automation to improve efficiency and agility, focus on sustainability by adopting cleaner technologies and practices, and enhance collaboration across the supply chain to create more integrated and resilient solutions,” said Ms Mpofu.

She also stressed the importance of people: “The industry must prioritize workforce development to attract and retain skilled personnel and adapt to the changing skills requirements of the future.”

AIR CARGO SHOULD DEVELOP INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS DIGITALLY ENABLED, FUTURE-PROOF

“Looking at the bigger picture, for global success in air cargo, our strategic emphasis must be on developing infrastructure that is digitally enabled, future-proof, and trade-connected. Public-Private Partnerships are, as we have noted, effective governance models for modernization, and our regional hubs should be designed as multimodal centres.

And critically, digital clearance systems, customs integration, risk-based clearance, and regional harmonization are essential for achieving efficient cargo release and clearance. Our goal must be to transform every checkpoint into a competitive advantage. We all know the reality: a shipment can cross the globe in a matter of hours, yet still face days of delay at a border,” concluded Ms Mpofu.

As air cargo continues to play a pivotal role in global trade and economic development, ACSA’s forward-thinking approach is a strong signal of Africa’s readiness to innovate, grow and sustain a more collaborative air cargo ecosystem.

#AirCargo #ACSAllence #ICAO #ACSA #GlobalTrade #MpumiMpofu #DigitalCargo #Sustainability #Logistics #CargoCommunitySystems #FutureOfFreight #SupplyChainInnovation #Antalya2025 #AfricaRising