Following the motto "one location, one digital standard," the regular operation of the IT platform Fair@Link is set to start at Hamburg Airport on August 4, 2025. With the Cargo Community System from Frankfurt-based IT air freight company Allivate, the aim is to establish the prerequisites for a holistic digitalization of handling and customs processes in the freight center, it is stated.
After a transition phase, it is planned that air freight shipments to be handled must be pre-registered via the Cargo Community System during 2026.
All air freight handlers on board
Newly connected to the system is the handling agent Wisag Cargo – the reasons given are the escalating shortage of skilled workers and
increasing cargo volume.
“We no longer see the process step of which shipments arrive at the incoming goods stage, but much earlier, avoiding double entries and paper,” explains Ingo Veihl, Managing Director of Wisag Cargo.
This has now achieved one hundred percent coverage with the air freight handlers, which also include LUG and Swissport Cargo.
“The connection of all handling agents is the basis for a binding introduction of site-wide digital and standardized air freight handling,” says Allivate Managing Director Dirk Gladiator.
Digital future
According to Allivate, air freight volume grew by 39 percent to 65,400 tons in 2024 - this is also why the binding introduction of Fair@Link is an important step towards digitalization.
“With the Cargo Community System, we enable more efficient use of existing capacities through foresighted planning and digital collaboration. This way, we strengthen Hamburg Airport as a powerful and future-proof air freight location,” says Alexander Müller, Head of Office & Logistics at Hamburg Airport.
Accelerated processes
In the future, the digitized handling process is to begin with the registration of planned air freight shipments by the forwarding agents via the Fair@Link platform. Handling agents would then receive the information in real-time to align their capacities with the expected volume.
The reduced administrative effort is intended to enable shortened waiting and handling times for all parties involved as well as optimized traffic control. Additionally, there is
the possibility to prepare export customs declarations via Fair@Link and transmit them electronically directly to the customs office automatically upon the arrival of the goods.
“With Fair@Link, we are creating a reliable basis for modern, networked air freight handling, where all participants – from forwarders and handling agents to authorities – can interact on a common platform,” emphasizes Jens Sorgenfrei, board member of the Association of Hamburg Forwarders (VHSp).
The foundations for using the IT platform at Hamburg Airport were already laid in 2019 as part of a pilot project with the participation of Dakosy. Since 2024, the system has been operated and further developed by Allivate – a 50:50 joint venture between Dakosy and
