The international cargo shippers' association was founded in 1926. Its membership is not limited to freight forwarding companies, but also includes customs, shipping, air freight, warehousing and automobile forwarding industries, as these are part of international shipping. Today, FIATA has more than 50 full members and more than 1000 associate members, and its activities cover 3,500 shipping companies in 125 countries. It is not a profit-making organization per se. Its mission is to help national freight forwarders to unite with their industry to represent the interests of shippers at international conferences.

FIATA has ten skills committees, one of which is the Aeronautical Institute. Its primary task is to promote and safeguard the interests of freight forwarding agencies in air cargo and to harmonize the activities of national freight forwarding agencies associations in the international context.

International cargo air routes

The busiest international air routes are:

The North Atlantic air line between Western Europe and North America. This route is primarily connected to Paris, London, Frankfurt, New York, Chicago, Monteria and other aviation hubs.

Western Europe-Middle East-Far East air routes. The route connects major airports in Western Europe to Hong Kong, Beijing, Tokyo and other airports in the Far East. And via Athens, Cairo, Tehran, Karachi, New Delhi, Bangkok, Singapore and other important air stations.

The North Pacific route between the Far East and North America. This is the air line from Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo and other airports via the north Pacific to the west coast of North America, such as Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and other airports. It can also be extended to airports along the east coast of North America. Honolulu, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, is the primary relay station on the route.