Danube River in Budapest. Photo: Shutterstock The International Air Transport Association (IATA) will bring air cargo specialists together in Budapest, Hungary, in September for the 2026 IATA Cargo Experts Conference, with the event focused on practical solutions to everyday operational challenges across the air freight industry.
The conference will take place on September 23 and 24, 2026, under the theme “From Expertise to Execution.” Organizers say the event will focus on how global standards, technology and data can be applied to improve the reliability, safety and efficiency of cargo operations.
IATA Global Head of Cargo Brendan Sullivan said the conference is designed to give cargo professionals practical ideas they can take back to their organizations.
“CEC brings cargo experts together to share what works, tackle common challenges, and take away tangible ideas they can apply in their own organizations,” Sullivan said. He added that effective operations are particularly important for a sector where customers depend on reliable deliveries every day.
The 2026 conference will feature three specialized tracks covering digital cargo, safety and security, and pharmaceutical and cargo operations.
Photo: ShutterstockThe Digital Cargo track will examine the continued adoption of IATA's ONE Record standard, which is designed to create a digital record for every air cargo shipment and improve information sharing across the supply chain.
Sessions will also look at practical applications of APIs, artificial intelligence and automation. Key topics will include cargo security, shipment visibility, data quality and interoperability between different systems used throughout the industry.
The Safety & Security track will address emerging risks facing air cargo operators. Among the issues expected to receive attention is the safe handling of dangerous goods and the growing problem of undeclared lithium batteries entering the air transport system.
The conference will also explore ways to strengthen risk assessment and oversight as global cargo operations become increasingly complex.
The third track, Pharma & Cargo Operations, will focus on the specialized requirements of pharmaceutical transportation. Discussions will cover ground handling, operational resilience and cold-chain management.
IATA said smarter compliance systems and real-time data can help improve the reliability of pharmaceutical shipments, where temperature control and timely delivery are particularly important.
The Budapest event will therefore combine industry expertise with discussions about technologies and standards that can be implemented in everyday cargo operations.
With digitalization, security and pharmaceutical logistics among the major challenges facing the sector, the conference is expected to provide cargo professionals with practical approaches to improving efficiency and resilience across the global air freight supply chain.