CLECAT AIR-SECURITY INSTITUTES MEET
On 3 February, CLECAT’s Air Freight Logistics and Supply Chain Security Institutes convened to discuss recent EU developments in aviation security, ground handling service challenges and freight forwarders experiences and preparedness with ICS2 Release 2 and Release 3.
Members were updated on the European Commission revised proposed amendments to the EU civil aviation security legislation, responding to incidents that occurred within the EU over the summer of last year. It was noted that these new regulatory requirements should address security vulnerabilities while aligning with daily operational practices.
The meeting also addressed the findings from a CLECAT survey on the challenges faced by freight forwarders with ground handling services in Europe. There is a general concern about the lack of quality and service levels provided by groundhandlers at EU airports, which impacts on the services freight forwarders provide to their shipper clients, mainly due to delays which frustrate the planning processes. The aim of the survey was to gather first-hand insights into the key operational challenges affecting freight forwarders and to support evidence-based advocacy for improvements in service quality and efficiency. CLECAT is now in the process of developing recommendations to improve the efficiency and quality of groundhandling services at EU airports.
Members received updates on the ongoing CLECAT survey on members’ experiences with ICS2 Release 2 and preparedness for Release 3 particularly in relation to multiple filing, new data requirements, and filing responsibilities. The survey results will be presented by CLECAT to the European Commission and Member States at the upcoming Trans-European Coordination meeting on 12-13 February.