IATA names innovation award finalists

IATA has announced the five finalists for its 2017 air cargo innovation awards, whose ideas will be subject to a vote at the airline association’s World Cargo Symposium in Abu Dhabi next month.
The final five out of 46 entries, in alphabetical order, are:
Astral Aerial Solutions – UTM Concept for Africa (Kenya); Etihad Cargo – Smart Electric Cool Dolly (UAE); Gate chain – Redefining trade with block chain (Switzerland); Jettainer – Innovative Decision Support System (DSS) (Germany); OpenAirlines – SkyBreathe Fuel Efficiency (France).
Submissions covered a wide-range of topics including drones, ULDs, special cargo and dangerous goods.
IATA said that applicants used “cutting edge and emerging technologies such as block chain and big data to develop innovative solutions to benefit the industry”.
Seven members of an independent jury evaluated the submissions based upon their assessment of the idea, its coherence to the program objectives, its potential for value creation, and the likelihood of achieving success based upon the submitting team’s plan and experience.
The finalists will present their project at the 11^th WCS in Abu Dhabi which takes place March 14-16. Delegates will then vote for their preferred innovation and the winner will receive $20,000 during the conference’s closing plenary.
You have got to be in it, to win it. The Air Cargo News Cargo Airline of the Year awards are now open for entries.
There are six categories in total to enter this year, one more than last year due to the creation of the innovation award, sponsored by Heathrow Cargo.
Please submit your entries by Monday March 27, 2017. Entries submitted after this time will not be eligible. Click here to visit the awards website.