ICAO–UPU partnership

Since 2009, the UPU and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have worked closely together to enhance the security, efficiency and regulation of global postal services in relation to air transport. This partnership was formalized in 2015 with an updated memorandum of understanding, and was strengthened further by the creation of the ICAO–UPU Contact Committee (CC) in 2018.

The ICAO–UPU CC and the Quadrilateral Contact Committee (4C3) have advanced their collaboration in 2024 through key meetings. In February, the 4C3 met at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Headquarters in Geneva, followed by the ICAO–UPU CC meeting held in July in Bern, Switzerland. These meetings addressed critical areas, including air cargo security, digitalization and capacity building initiatives, reflecting their shared commitment to strengthening global postal and aviation systems.

1. Regulatory alignment: ICAO and the UPU work together to align postal services with international air transport regulations, emphasizing safety and security. This includes active participation in groups such as the ICAO Working Group on Air Cargo Security (WGACS) and the ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel (DGP), as well as coordination through the ICAO–UPU CC.

2. Digitalization and data sharing: The partnership explores the potential for digital transformation within postal services, enhancing data exchanges that streamline postal logistics and air cargo handling, thus supporting the global supply chain.

3. Supply chain security: A core priority is improving the security of airmail. This has led to initiatives such as the INTERPOL IIPCIC course on counterfeit lithium batteries and the UPU dangerous goods course, both of which contribute to safer mail conveyance.

4. Capacity building: The UPU collaborates with ICAO’s regional experts to integrate ICAO knowledge into UPU capacity-building programmes, helping postal operators meet evolving air transport standards, especially around security and regulatory compliance.

5. Basic airmail conveyance rate (BACR): ICAO and the UPU work together to enhance the transparency and regulation of airmail rates, ultimately supporting cost-effective and efficient international mail transport.

6. Training material: In partnership with ICAO, the International Air Transport Association and civil aviation administrations, the UPU has developed training materials that meet international standards for handling dangerous goods in postal services. These materials ensure that national Posts are equipped to comply with ICAO’s Technical Instructions on dangerous goods, providing a strong foundation for safe and secure postal operations.

7. Data sharing for joint economic research and statistical analysis: ICAO and the UPU collaborate to produce relevant international postal and aviation indicators and official statistics in order to improve measurement of the evolution of cross-border e-commerce flows between countries, produce traffic forecasts, and study the impact of international logistics constraints on the development of physical digital trade. They are also partnering to establish a unified data platform that will create the next generation framework for enhanced data sharing and new artificial intelligence applications.

The enduring partnership between ICAO and the UPU represents a cornerstone of global postal and aviation security. By fostering regulatory alignment, enhancing data-sharing capabilities and prioritizing capacity building, this collaboration continues to strengthen the efficiency, safety and security of international postal services. As the aviation and postal sectors evolve with new technological advancements, ICAO and the UPU remain committed to meeting the dynamic needs of the global supply chain.

• Learn more about ICAO and security in the postal supply chain, here.
• Learn more about ICAO and the postal supply chain integration, here.