PARIS-CDG: April 05, 2018. As France endures rail and air disruption caused by on-going labor unrest, the Air Cargo France Association (ACFA), created in July last year, has been officially launched.

Founding members are the ADP Group, Air France Cargo, TLF Overseas, SYCAFF, WFS, SODEXI, CIN France, the Interregional Customs Directorate of Roissy, Orly and Le Bourget, the France’s Civil Aviation Authority, and the Delegated Prefecture of Roissy-Orly-Le Bourget.

“The creation of the Air Cargo France Association is an important step forward for Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Europe's leading airport for air cargo,” declared ADP Group managing director and ACFA president Marc Houalla.

“It expresses the desire of the cargo community to act together to offer all our customers a service and infrastructure to the best standards, to be a force of proposal to the public authorities, to showcase the strengths of the platform in Europe and in the world,” he added.

Replacing a cross-industry cargo committee that represented the private sector, government agencies, airport managers and professional organizations, ACFA says its main objectives are to communicate the added-value provided by all stakeholders who contribute to the air cargo supply chain and improve air cargo services through new technology.

Five working groups have been set up to provide an ACFA road map covering communications, management processing of container assets, identifying and creating tomorrow’s employment opportunities, work-flow digitalization, and enabling CEIV Pharma certification for all operators.

In addition to Houalla as chairman, ACFA has three vice-chairs: Elisabeth Herelier, general manager of Air France-KLM-Martinair Cargo; Jean-Marc Baduel, Head of SYCAFF; and Herbert de Saint-Simon, Head of TLF Overseas.