• The air cargo industry closed the 2026 IATA World Cargo Symposium (WCS) in Lima with a strong call to accelerate digital integration across the global supply chain, while announcing Calgary, Canada as the host city for the 2027 edition of the event.
• During the closing session, industry leaders emphasised that collaboration and data sharing will be critical to building a more efficient and resilient air cargo ecosystem.
• Speakers highlighted the importance of investing not only in infrastructure but also in workforce skills to enable stronger digital connectivity across the sector.

A key takeaway from the symposium was the need for the industry to begin implementing digital initiatives at a practical level, aligning stakeholders and placing customers and people at the centre of cargo operations.

Participants also stressed the importance of improving collaboration across the supply chain, particularly for special cargo segments, while maintaining strict compliance and a strong safety culture. Regulatory standardisation was identified as another priority to support safe and secure cargo operations within an increasingly complex global logistics environment. Sustainability, operational excellence and innovation were recurring themes throughout the event, alongside discussions on emerging challenges such as lithium battery transport and the rapid expansion of e-commerce logistics.

The symposium concluded with the announcement that Calgary will host the 2027 World Cargo Symposium, positioning the Canadian city as a strategic North American cargo gateway with strong multimodal connectivity across air, rail and road networks.

Organisers said the location highlights Calgary’s growing role in supporting resilient, secure and sustainable supply chains.

The 2026 event brought together airlines, airports, handlers, freight forwarders and technology providers from across the global cargo community to discuss the future of the industry.

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