Cathay Cargo has widened its use of artificial intelligence in compliance operations, unveiling an AI-assisted screening tool designed to flag possible permit and trade-control obligations earlier in the air freight journey.
The carrier says the system analyses shipment information in context, rather than simply searching for isolated keywords. By doing so, it is meant to help teams identify whether a consignment may be subject to import, export or transhipment controls before ...
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it moves through the network. Cathay Cargo argues that the added layer of digital review should improve visibility for customers while giving frontline staff more precise information to support follow-up checks.
Trade-control rules can be especially difficult to navigate in air cargo because obligations may differ depending on the goods involved, the origin and destination, and any intermediate routing. Cathay Cargo said its new capability is intended to make those requirements easier to spot at the acceptance stage, when errors in declarations can still be corrected. The company stressed, however, that the technology does not shift responsibility away from shippers, who remain accountable for providing complete and accurate documentation.
The airline has also updated the interface used by operational staff so that flagged shipments can be assessed more quickly. Cathay Cargo said the redesigned display brings together the reasons for an alert and the actions that may need to follow, helping teams prioritise cases that require closer scrutiny. The aim, it said, is to make compliance reviews more consistent and to reduce the risk of cargo being delayed later in the journey.
The move fits into a broader digital strategy that Cathay Cargo has been building across its cargo business. The carrier has previously said it is exploring AI and large language models to make shipment data easier to process, and it has already applied AI to areas such as lithium-battery screening, safety analysis and CCTV monitoring. In October 2025, Cathay Cargo said it became the first airline to provide real-time customs-clearance status through IATA ONE Record for customers using its EzyCargo platform or existing ONE Record API connections.
Dominic Perret, Cathay’s cargo director, said the company sees certainty as increasingly important as regulatory demands become more complex. He said the combination of AI-assisted analysis and human oversight would help identify obligations before cargo is accepted, rather than after it has already entered the network. Cathay Cargo added that it plans to refine the technology through operational feedback and compliance reviews as trade rules continue to evolve across different markets.
The launch comes against a backdrop of tighter and more varied advance cargo information and trade-control regimes around the world. Cathay Cargo already issues guidance on systems including US Air Cargo Advance Screening, the European Union’s ICS2 regime and UAE pre-loading cargo information requirements, all of which can demand detailed shipment descriptions and, in some cases, HS codes. For consignments that cross several jurisdictions, those requirements can stack up quickly, increasing the burden on shippers, forwarders and carriers alike.
Cathay Cargo said the latest screening tool is meant to respond to that complexity by giving both customers and staff clearer, earlier indications of where compliance attention may be needed. The company’s broader message is that automation can help sharpen decision-making, but not replace the judgement of people working within the system.
Source: Noah Wire Services
