PEACE HAS again been called between SAAFF (SA Association of Freight Forwarders) and IATA (International Air Transport Association) on the contentious subject of the IATA daughter operation CASS (Cargo Accounting Settlement System).
The battle between the two originally started when IATA was accused of blatantly imposing CASS on the industry - despite objections to certain conditions having been expressed over almost two years at a feasibility study and other meetings between airlines and forwarders.
The freight forwarders were advised of the intended implementation of CASS without prior consultation or negotiation, in complete contravention of the agreement reached between the two international parent bodies of IATA and FIATA (the forwarders association parent), was how Edward Little, executive director of SAAFF, put it.
At another three-way SAAFF/IATA/CASS meeting last September, senior executives among SAAFF members put their concerns on the table. No minutes were circulated by IATA, and, from notices subsequently published by CASS, it appeared that the concerns had been largely ignored, said Little.
A May meeting brought the dispute close to settlement, when certain airline executives expressed support for negotiations with the forwarding community - at the same time spotlighting the partnership now existing between the two freight communities.
Many of the one-sided proposals put forward by CASS were discussed and resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned, Little told FTW.
Others - because of their complexity or implications - were put forward to another meeting.
In the interim, however, a press release was issued by Karen Mitchell, CASS manager, in which the conditions and penalties of the CASS system were detailed.
But penalties like black-listing and revoking guarantees - even in areas of dispute about billing accuracy - provoked the forwarders to further fire-breathing.
Little condemned the tone and content of the release, and suggested that a joint statement representing the views of both parties at the conclusion of negotiations would have been a better way to go about it.
As a reply to his letter to FTW (May 21, 1999), Little had his wish granted with Mark Henson, IATA regional director for Africa and the Middle East, doing his amicable bit of damage control.
Further meetings have been held, and a joint SAAFF/ CASS statement has just been issued.
The statement expresses agreement between airlines, IATA and SAAFF, that:
¥ The implementation of CASS will be July 1;
¥ A test phase will be conducted with a number of airlines and freight forwarders for the data applicable to June;
¥ The day-to-day operation of the CASS system will be conducted in terms of a procedure and operational manual to be prepared by CASS;
¥ The manual will be updated as practical experience is gained;
¥ Both the airlines and freight forwarders will have the opportunity to introduce amendments for consideration and approval by both parties.
The contentious issue of financial guarantees remains outstanding, Little told FTW, but it was agreed to hold a workshop between the respective parties in order to reach agreement in this regard.
Harmony again in the airfreight industry.
By Alan Peat
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