This initiative began after changes in the airline industry, when the transport of mail by air was impacted both by traditional carriers seeking to become low cost carriers and by additional requirements for border control and security. Key objectives include:
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Optimise Mail Transport Business Processes and Monitoring
The Future of Mail by Air initiative aims at transferring the traditional business processes between posts and passenger carriers into a professional customer-supplier relationship, which helps to improve the visibility of mail in transport at a lower overall operating cost. Optimisation options for business processes are identified in the areas of sourcing, planning, handover monitoring and accounting of mail transport by air.
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Process and System Integration with Passenger Carriers
The key optimisation option identified is to align mail and cargo processes in transport without changing the legal status of mail. Pilot tests are being implemented to test booking procedures for mail, tracking mail in cargo systems, and electronic accounting of mail.
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Paper Free Transport and Accounting
EDI messaging will eventually replace the huge amounts of paper which presently accompany mail in transport or are needed for accounting. The vision is to implement paper-free transport and accounting for post-to-post, posts and ground handler, and post to carrier and Customs exchanges.
The initiative provides a permanent focus on improving quality of service results for customers; on improving interoperability and cost effective operations, combined with a forum to discuss and be pro-active to future trends.