PACTL becomes first mainland China cargo terminal to win Cargo iQ certification

Shanghai Pudong International Airport Cargo Terminal Co. (PACTL) has become the first air cargo terminal operator from the Chinese mainland to achieve Cargo iQ Certification, landing the milestone together with its subsidiary PACTL WEST after completing the initiative's full audit process.

The certification recognises the implementation of Cargo iQ's quality standards for ground handling operations at both facilities. For an operator of PACTL's scale — three terminals at Shanghai Pudong International Airport and one at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport — that puts a structured, measurable quality framework across the bulk of its Shanghai footprint.

Cargo iQ, an industry initiative supported by IATA, promotes common quality standards and performance measurements across the air cargo supply chain. Its framework focuses on defining and monitoring key shipment milestones, helping participants improve process transparency, data quality and operational performance.

What does this change for airlines and forwarders?

In practical terms, it means milestone data out of PACTL's terminals should become more consistent and more usable. PACTL joined Cargo iQ in June last year, and since then has worked closely with IATA to integrate Cargo iQ requirements into its operational processes. It also built a dedicated database for daily data analysis and performance monitoring — the kind of plumbing that turns milestone tracking from a reporting chore into a management tool.

For airline customers and logistics partners, the payoff is visibility. Consistent milestone measurement lets them see where shipments actually sit in the handling chain, spot deviations earlier, and hold counterparties to a shared standard rather than bilateral promises. Ground handlers benefit too: a common framework cuts the cost of reconciling different customers' bespoke KPI regimes.

The certification sits inside a wider digital push at PACTL. The company lists three ongoing initiatives:

• Easy Cargo 2.0
• An upgrade to Hermes 5
• ONE Record pilots

All three support connected data exchange and digital cargo handling processes, and they complement the Cargo iQ work rather than sitting apart from it. ONE Record, IATA's data-sharing standard, and milestone-based quality monitoring point in the same direction: shipments that can be tracked, measured and improved end to end.

'Commitment to operational quality'

PACTL framed the certification as a step in ongoing efforts to strengthen shipment visibility, support consistent performance measurement and enhance service quality through data-driven management.

"Achieving Cargo iQ certification reflects our commitment to operational quality through consistent processes, data-driven management and continuous improvement," said Carsten Hernig, deputy general manager of PACTL.

"It represents the collective efforts of our colleagues at PACTL and PACTL WEST and provides a foundation for further strengthening operational transparency and service quality for our airline customers and logistics partners," Hernig added.

Cargo iQ's leadership echoed the point and highlighted the regional significance of a mainland Chinese terminal operator certifying for the first time.

"Congratulations to PACTL for its swift and rigorous implementation. Achieving this milestone reflects strong leadership and a clear commitment to quality standards and operational excellence in ground handling," said Marie Seco-Köppen, executive director of Cargo iQ.

"PACTL's active engagement within Cargo iQ demonstrates how collaboration drives continuous improvement and ensures regional perspectives are and will be reflected in the evolution of our global standard," Seco-Köppen added.

That last remark matters beyond ceremony. Cargo iQ's standard evolves through its members, and a Shanghai operator of PACTL's weight at the table means Chinese mainland handling realities now shape the global framework directly.

The ownership picture

PACTL's shareholder structure explains some of its quality tilt. SAA Logistics Development Co. holds 51%, Lufthansa Cargo AG holds 29%, and JHJ Logistics Management Co. holds the remaining 20%. A European carrier as a near-30% shareholder brings expectations of European-grade process discipline — expectations the Cargo iQ framework formalises.

Following certification, PACTL said it will continue to strengthen quality management through performance monitoring, digital innovation and collaboration with industry partners, supporting ongoing improvement of its cargo handling operations. With the ONE Record pilots and Hermes 5 upgrade still in motion, expect PACTL to keep converting audit milestones into measurable service gains at Shanghai's two airports.