Cathay Cargo has made a major leap in airfreight digitalisation by becoming the first airline to offer real-time customs clearance status updates through the IATA ONE Record protocol. This advancement brings a new level of transparency and efficiency to cargo shipments, giving forwarders and customers immediate access to customs decisions and significantly reducing uncertainty and delays.
Real-Time Visibility for Global Shipments
By integrating customs clearance updates into the EzyCargo platform and ONE Record API, Cathay Cargo now allows customers to track their shipments’ status with customs authorities in real-time. The system covers key regions, including: Europe, the U.S., Canada, and the UAE, with updates shown as “Logistic Events.” These updates include whether a shipment is pending approval, permitted to load, held for inspection, or released for pickup; critical information that was previously reliant on slower, manual updates.
Smoother Operations, Fewer Delays
This digital upgrade eliminates the need for manual communication between ground handlers and forwarders. As a result, customers can proactively address issues like inspections or delays without waiting for third-party notifications. The ability to act faster translates into greater efficiency and smoother supply chain operations, especially when shipping time-sensitive or high-value goods.
“By leveraging the ONE Record-powered EzyCargo platform, Cathay Cargo’s forwarder partners can now access real-time customs clearance status the moment it is issued by customs to airlines. This minimises the possible delay of message relays from the GHAs, and enhances operational efficiency for both our airline and forwarder partners.” – GLS Chief Executive Simon Ng
Expanding Digital Ecosystem
The initiative is part of Cathay Cargo’s broader digital strategy, developed in partnership with Global Logistics System (HK) Company Limited. It complements tools like Click & Ship and demonstrates the airline’s leadership in IATA’s push for industry-wide adoption of ONE Record. By 2026, the new customs feature will also be integrated into the Cathay Cargo website for registered users, making the platform even more user-friendly and comprehensive. See more from Cathay HERE.
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