Avianca Cargo and Kuehne+Nagel take Cargo iQ Quality Rally in Frankfurt

Avianca Cargo and Kuehne+Nagel have won the Cargo iQ Quality Rally, held in Frankfurt, for a joint continuous-improvement methodology built on regular performance reviews. The award rewards discipline, not novelty. And that distinction matters for how the rest of the industry should read it.

The winning project attacks two measurable aspects of the Cargo iQ standard. The first is coverage: verifying that messages reporting each operational milestone are actually sent. The second is performance: measuring whether those milestones are completed within planned timeframes. Tackle both together and you get a more accurate view of shipment progress. You also get a clearer picture of which processes need attention.

What does this change for shippers?

In practice, the two companies run regular joint reviews, align their data, and track improvement initiatives to completion. Digital tools, trend analysis, and standardized operational processes support the work. The stated aim is concrete: identify the causes of deviations, assign responsibilities, and implement corrective actions.

For shippers and freight forwarders, the payoff is information. Reliable, timely shipment data supports planning and helps manage disruptions. Tracking compliance with operational milestones also builds confidence when choosing an airline to move goods. That is the commercial argument underneath the methodology.

Diogo Elias, CEO of Avianca Cargo, framed the win in service terms. "We want every improvement in our operation to translate into better service for our customers. Working alongside Kuehne+Nagel allows us to identify where we can be more efficient and take coordinated action to achieve that," he said. He added that the recognition encourages the carrier to keep strengthening operational reliability and the quality of the information it provides, "so our customers can plan and make decisions with greater confidence."

How the jury judged it

The project stood out across three criteria: the quality of the presentation, how clearly the lessons learned were articulated, and the relevance of the improvement — including its potential impact across the industry and its viability for implementation. In other words, the jury assessed transferability, not just internal results.

Marie Seco-Koeppen, Executive Director of Cargo iQ, made the point bluntly. "Congratulations to the Avianca and Kuehne+Nagel teams for winning the Frankfurt Round! Their results show that the value of a standard lies not in defining it, but in using it in a disciplined manner," she said. That cuts at a persistent weakness in air cargo: standards exist on paper more often than they function in operations.

A partnership with a data program behind it

The project also plugs into a broader commercial structure. It contributes to Kuehne+Nagel's Global Partnership Agreement (GPA), specifically its Data Quality Program. Both teams say the collaboration strengthens their global relationship and helps meet the standards expected of Kuehne+Nagel's global airline partners.

Holger Ketz, Global Head of Air Logistics Network & Carrier Management at Kuehne+Nagel, tied the award to that program. "This recognition reflects the strength of our partnership with Avianca Cargo and our shared commitment to continuous improvement. Through our Preferred Partner Program, we work closely together to enhance data quality, operational performance, and shipment visibility, helping us deliver a more reliable experience for customers while supporting higher standards across the air cargo industry," he said.

A caveat follows the promise. The announcement describes method and intent, not headline metrics — no on-time percentages, no coverage figures, no before-and-after deviations were disclosed. Whether the discipline survives beyond the Frankfurt podium will show in the data customers actually receive.

What is certain is the direction. Avianca Cargo and Kuehne+Nagel say they will keep turning performance monitoring into an ongoing improvement process, with more efficient operations, greater shipment visibility, and a more coordinated response to customer needs as the stated goals.