Zurich - The Airfreight Institute (AFI) of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) has reached a milestone – 50 years of representing the interests of airfreight forwarders worldwide. AFI will hold its 100th meeting at FIATA in Zurich on 29 March 2019.

AFI has come a long way since its founding in 1969 and so has the industry. AFI held its first meeting on 17 June 1970. In that same year, the Boeing 747, popularly known as the Jumbo, made its first commercial flight. While only 540 Jumbos remain in service today, AFI is still flying high by carrying out its mission of representing members’ interest.

FIATA President Babar Badat said, “In the past half a century, AFI has been following the market development of air freight, addressing its members’ concerns and safeguarding the interests of air forwarders. I would like to convey our sincere gratitude to all the chairpersons, delegates, experts, and managers for their tireless efforts and diligent work by contributing to AFI for the past 50 years.”

Under the FIATA umbrella are the IATA FIATA Consultative Council, the IATA FIATA Governing Board, ICAO – FIATA DGR Training Program, currently in its eighth year, e-initiatives, safety/security issues, and the IATA FIATA Air Cargo Program (IFACP). The current IATA Cargo Agency/Intermediary programs will be replaced soon by the new IATA-FIATA Air Cargo Program (IFACP) under the governance of IATA-FIATA Governance Board (IFGB). Once it is implemented, the Cargo Agency/Intermediary Programme Rules will be suspended.

Stephen Morris, FIATA Acting Director General, said, “AFI looks forward to welcoming everyone to FIATA’s headquarters in Zurich on 29 March 2019 and to another 50 years of representing the airfreight forwarder industry.”