The International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (Fiata) has put its support behind the call to eliminate the fuel and security surcharges in airline freight rates.

“Recent statements of some airlines’ freight divisions announcing their policy to return to a simplified ‘all-in’ rate structure that eliminates the various surcharges – for example, fuel and security – are welcome.

The simplification of rate structures will be a significant benefit to forwarders and shippers alike,” Fiata said in a statement.

Rodolfo Sagel, Fiata Airfreight Institute chairman said that forwarders had been lobbying for  these surcharges to be removed as they were ‘opaque and complex’,  thereby making it difficult to quote a definite price for air cargo transportation.

“The fuel surcharge has come under significant criticism in recent months as fuel prices continue to fall,” he commented.