The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reconfigured the conference programme for its upcoming World Cargo Symposium (WCS) to reflect the evolving realities of the global air cargo market, introducing a dedicated Special Cargo Stream alongside enhanced regulatory and digitalisation sessions.
Set to take place in Lima, Peru, from 10–12 March, the symposium will be held under the theme “Advancing Air Cargo in a Dynamic World”, which IATA said captures the impact of shifting geopolitics, emerging regulatory frameworks and accelerating digital transformation on the industry. Together, these forces are reshaping cargo operations while opening up new growth opportunities across global supply chains.
To provide delegates with deeper insight and practical guidance, IATA has redesigned the WCS agenda into focused streams aimed at addressing the most pressing challenges facing air cargo stakeholders.
A key addition for this edition is the Special Cargo Stream, which will explore a wide spectrum of specialist handling requirements. Topics will range from live animal transport and perishables to cold chain integrity and pharmaceutical logistics, reflecting the growing complexity and value of specialised cargo movements. Sessions will also examine how digital tools such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance visibility, improve compliance and strengthen supply chain resilience.
Complementing this will be a Regulatory Stream, covering customs, trade facilitation and physical security. The sessions are designed to help industry participants navigate increasingly complex global standards and compliance requirements, particularly as governments introduce new controls linked to security, sustainability and trade policy.
As in previous years, digitalisation remains a central pillar of the WCS programme. The Digitalisation Stream will focus on ONE Record adoption, innovations in cargo warehouse operations, and strategies to scale digital transformation across regions operating under diverse and sometimes fragmented regulatory environments.
In addition to the core streams, spotlight sessions will address cross-cutting themes including innovation, sustainability and operational excellence, offering broader perspectives on how the industry can adapt and evolve.
The specialist streams and spotlight sessions will be held on day two of the conference, following the Opening Plenary on day one, which will feature a review of air cargo performance in 2025, alongside sustainability, economic and market outlooks.
The previous edition of the World Cargo Symposium, held in Dubai in 2025, attracted nearly 2,000 delegates, underlining the event’s position as one of the sector’s leading global forums. The 2026 edition will be hosted by LATAM Cargo.
WCS 2026 – agenda highlights
- Monday, 9 March: Meetings and workshops, including the Future Air Cargo Executives (FACE) Summit, the Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) Center Conference, and IATA Cargo Solutions workshops.
- Tuesday, 10 March: Opening Plenary, featuring a review of cargo trends in 2025, sustainability and economic outlooks, and market performance insights.
- Wednesday, 11 March: Regulatory, Special Cargo and Digitalisation streams, alongside spotlight sessions on innovation, sustainability and operations.
- Thursday, 12 March: E-commerce Forum, ONE Record training, ULD Forum, LAR Verify, Lithium Battery Forum and the Closing Plenary.
IATA said further details are available through the official WCS Roadmap, with registration now open for industry stakeholders seeking to engage with the strategic, regulatory and technological issues shaping the future of air cargo.
