Order 2013-11-22

Served: November 25, 2013

 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Action on IATA Agreement

Issued by the Department of Transportation

 on the 25th day of November, 2013

Docket OST-2013-0121

ORDER

By application filed on May 22, 2013, the International Air Transport Association (“IATA”) 

requests that the Department grant IATA and its member airlines an exemption from Condition

#2, one of the existing conditions imposed upon it traffic conference system as part of the 

Department’s continued approval of its “Provisions for the Conduct of the IATA Traffic 

Conferences” (“bylaws”). The condition requires that the U.S. air carrier members of IATA 

submit to the Department for appropriate action all recommended practices, agreements and 

resolutions adopted by IATA and each of its conferences and permanent conference committees.

IATA is seeking an exemption for two recommended practices (RP’s) of the Cargo Services 

Conference (CSC).1

Background

By Order 2012-4-18, served April 13, 2012, the Department granted an expanded exemption 

from condition #2, designed to facilitate prompt implementation of routine but essential 

standard-setting and interline coordination agreements without antitrust immunity, while 

preserving public notice and regulatory options.

Order 2012-4-18 established a three-tiered system for the filing and implementation of IATA 

agreements. The first tier includes all traffic conference agreements except those included in 

tiers two and three. IATA may declare Tier 1 agreements effective 30 days after filing unless the 

Department extends the review period for another 60 days. The second tier consists of 

agreements in specific subject areas, listed in Order 2012-4-18, in Appendix B, that the 

Department wishes to review on a case-by-case basis before implementation. After review the 

 

1 The various traffic conferences are the means through which IATA’s member airlines have traditionally met, 

discussed and agreed upon resolutions and recommended practices to be followed by the airlines under grants of antitrust 

immunity. Separate conferences are held for passenger and cargo transportation. See Order 85-5-32 (May 6, 1985)

Application of the International Air

Transport Association for an exemption

under 49 U.S.C. 40109 from the 

conditions of CAB Order 68-7-55 

For Cargo Service Conference Action
Department may approve, disapprove, or exempt each Tier 2 agreement. The third tier consists 

of recommended practices, agreements or resolutions that IATA still wishes to file with the 

Department for approval and antitrust immunity under sections 41308 and 41309 of 49 U.S.C.

All such third tier filings would have to await Department’s review and appropriate action before 

implementation.

IATA’s Application

The application requests exemption from Condition #2 for amendments to two RP’s of its 

previously exempted Cargo Services Conference that we have identified as Tier 2 agreements in 

Order 2012-4-18. The agreements in Docket OST-2013-0121 would make a number of changes 

to RP 1670 (Carriage of Cargo using Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)), to amend Attachment 

‘A’, Annex ‘A’ and Attachment ‘A’, Annex ‘C’, by removing the current language and making 

reference to Resolution 600f and Resolution 600g. The language from Resolution 600f (Form 

and Use of the Shipment Record When Using EDI Messages) and Resolution 600g (Form and 

Use of the Receipt for the Cargo) will replace the current language set forth in RP 1670. RP

1630 (Cargo Security) is being amended to align with the Consignment Security Declaration 

layout form proposed to be adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and 

to add completion instructions.

Decision

We find that granting an exemption from filing these agreements for prior approval before 

implementation is warranted, and we will therefore grant IATA’s application, which is consistent 

with the treatment of Tier 2 agreements that we established in Order 2012-4-18. 

The changes to RP 1670 and RP 1630 raise no competitive, consumer protection or other public 

interest concerns under U.S. aviation policy and regulations and do not require Department 

approval or antitrust immunization for their implementation.

Pursuant to authority duly delegated under the Department’s regulations, 49 CFR 1.54(b) (1):

We find that the agreement in Docket OST-2013-0121, as set forth in the attached Appendix, 

should be granted an exemption from filing with the Department for prior approval under 

condition #2 imposed on the IATA bylaws.

ACCORDINGLY,

1. We exempt the Cargo Services Conference recommended practices identified in the Appendix 

to this order from Condition #2, imposed on IATA’s Procedures for the Conduct of the IATA 

Traffic Conferences, Agreement 1175, as amended by Order 68-7-55, to the extent that IATA 

need not file the recommended practices for review and approval by the Department prior to a 

declaration of effectiveness by IATA and implementation by IATA members.

2. This exemption may be revoked in whole or in part at any time; and

3. This Order will be served on the International Air Transport Association.

Persons entitled to petition the Department for review of this order, under 14 CFR 385.30, may 

file petitions within seven days after the date of service of this order.
This order shall become effective and become the action of the Department of Transportation 

upon expiration of the above period, unless within such period a petition for review is filed or the 

Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs gives notice that she will review this 

order on her own motion.

By: 

 

Paul L. Gretch

Director, Office of International Aviation

for Aviation and International Affairs

(SEAL)

An electronic version of this document is available on the World Wide Web at

http:/www.regulations.gov/
APPENDIX

Page 1 of 1

Docket OST-2013-0121

IATA Title Expiry Date

Designation

CSC (Meet/007/2013) 1670 Carriage of Cargo Using Electronic Indefinite

Data Interchange (EDI)

(Amending)

CSC (35) 1630 Cargo Security Indefinite

(Amending)