A major air cargo industry gathering is taking place in Rome as tricargo, a new web-based platform designed to connect freight forwarders and airline sales agents, presents its long-term vision for a more transparent and neutral marketplace.
Developed by the Federation of Airline General Sales Agents (FEDAGSA), tricargo was created to address a structural issue in the air cargo sector: most existing booking and marketplace platforms are controlled by players with a commercial interest in the transactions they facilitate. As a result, freight forwarders often lack a fully neutral and comprehensive view of available GSA capacity.
To overcome this limitation, FEDAGSA partnered with Mark 3 International to bring the platform to market, recognising that scaling a global digital infrastructure requires operational and financial capabilities beyond those of a federation alone. Under the agreement, tricargo is designed to operate as an independent business, with structural safeguards intended to preserve its neutrality. Mark 3 International has access to the platform on the same terms as any other user.
The Rome event brings together senior representatives from freight forwarding and GSA communities, alongside industry federations including FIATA and FEDAGSA, as stakeholders gather to exchange views on the future structure of air cargo distribution.
Hosted by Matthew Ware, CEO of tricargo and Mark 3 International, the event is being held at Palazzo Dama and includes networking sessions and panel discussions focused on key challenges facing the industry over the next five years.
Ware, a former head of CFL and Chairman of Aviation Services UK, said the initiative comes at a moment when the industry is ready for a more connected and transparent system, noting that neutral platforms can enable conversations and opportunities that are difficult to achieve within fragmented commercial ecosystems.
He also highlighted that tricargo is not designed to replace existing relationships between forwarders and GSAs, but rather to make the broader market more visible. Users will be able to search by route or capability, view eligible GSAs, and submit quote requests, while the platform itself does not handle pricing, bookings, or transactions.
The event also features discussions on emerging technologies shaping the sector, including participation from AI startup Dobby AI, which is developing tools integrated into the forwarder side of the tricargo system.
According to Ware, the platform reflects long-standing industry frustrations around fragmentation, where forwarders typically rely on familiar partners while GSAs depend heavily on established networks. tricargo, he said, aims to broaden visibility without disrupting those relationships.
The platform is free for freight forwarders, while the first 100 GSAs to register will receive founding member status. Under the operating model, FEDAGSA and FIATA will also receive a share of gross revenue, ensuring the platform remains tied to the community it was created to serve.
