News / IATA postpones next week's World Cargo Symposium as delegates back out

03/03/2020

IATA’s World Cargo Symposium has been postponed, say organisers, following cancellations and concerns from participants.

Following a meeting today, IATA decided not to go ahead with next week’s event.

It said: “Over the past few days, we have been receiving enquiries about the status of the upcoming 14^th World Cargo Symposium in Istanbul due to the coronavirus outbreak (Covid-19). Although there have been no reported cases in Turkey, we have taken the decision to postpone the event.

“Since the first outbreak in mainland China, we have been monitoring the situation in Istanbul closely, working daily with local and international authorities. We have been following the World Health Organisation’s guidelines.

“However, there has been an increase in the number of participant cancellations over the past few days, for reasons including company travel bans and senior delegates needing to stay close to base during the crisis. Therefore, we feel that it would be best to postpone the event.

“Further information will follow in the coming days regarding delegate, sponsor and exhibitor situations and consequential actions that need to be taken.

“We are very sorry that this decision had to be taken but we are sure you will all agree it was the correct one and for the right reasons.”

There had been a great deal of speculation as to whether IATA would cancel as increasing numbers of delegates pulled out. Many will be able at least to gain refunds on tickets and hotel bookings, unlike TPM delegates in Long Beach, California, who were informed of the cancellation less than a day before the event was scheduled to begin.

IATA, which cited ‘postponement’ rather than cancellation, did not say when the event may be rescheduled.