All Nippon Airways (ANA) has taken the next step in digitalising its operations to make air cargo transport more secure and reliable as it became the first airline in Asia to implement DG AutoCheck Connect API, the newest feature of IATA’s DG AutoCheck.

The newly launched API will automate the transfer of data from DG AutoCheck into its international cargo system. DG AutoCheck is an electronic verification system for dangerous goods declarations based on IATA regulations, enabling the conversion of declaration forms received from shippers or air cargo agents into data.

ANA said it aims to align with IATA’s goal of digitising all paper-based information in air cargo transportation (via e-freight) to achieve consistent data exchange and processing, industry-wide. DG AutoCheck digitises the dangerous goods consignment operations and information registration, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual checks against declaration forms, regulation books and paper checklists.

“Today it can take up to 100 minutes to get flight crew of freighter operations, detailed information on dangerous goods in the payload through NOTOC systems. With Connect API, this will be instantaneous,” explained said Kenichi Wakiya, executive vice president of ANA and president of ANA Cargo.

The Japanese airline has started implementing DG AutoCheck at Tokyo Narita, Tokyo Haneda and Osaka Kansai airports, with plans to expand to more airports in the future.

“Efficiently exchanging data with Connect API will help deliver the speed, quality, compliance and ultimately safety benefits of digitalization that air cargo customers are demanding. These benefits are real and measurable.”