IAG Cargo, the cargo division of IAG (International Airlines Group), has adopted the International Air Transport Associations (IATA) newly developed Dangerous Goods AutoCheck (DG AutoCheck) to automate the acceptance of dangerous goods shipments from its London Heathrow hub.
Image courtesy IAG Cargo
DG AutoCheck is a digital solution that facilitates the acceptance of dangerous goods by checking all the regulations, rules and guidance contained in the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) and converts them into an automated validation solution, enabling IAG Cargo to check the compliance for the Declaration for Dangerous Goods (DGD) against the latest industry regulations more quickly.
The DG AutoCheck platform uses optical character recognition technology enabling paper DGD to be transformed into electronic data facilitating a safe, secure and efficient operation for IAG Cargo in relation to its dangerous goods shipments. The platform facilitates in the verification of the packages’ marks and labels on dangerous goods consignments.
John Cheetham, Chief Commercial Officer at IAG Cargo, said: “We are delighted to be working with IATA supporting our customers with innovative digital solutions. Every year IAG Cargo handles thousands of dangerous goods shipments - compliance checks on these complex consignments can be time consuming. Implementing the IATA DG AutoCheck platform will eliminate manual processes to transform and automate dangerous goods acceptance checks whilst increasing safety and operational efficiency.
“At IAG Cargo, we are always looking at ways to improve how we do business and with the data provided by the platform it will support us in providing an enhanced customer experience.”
Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s Global Head of cargo said: “Digitalisation and improving safety are the industry’s top priorities. DG AutoCheck achieves both in relation to the carriage of dangerous goods. Time consuming manual procedures are eliminated, and safety is enhanced through the reduction of human-error during checking. IAG Cargo’s customers will benefit from greater efficiency, streamlined processes and enhanced safety.