IATA and ACA update their inflight catering template

Following on from an agreement between IATA and ACA (the Airline Catering Association), the two bodies have released an update to their Standard Inflight Catering Agreement (SICA). This standardised template is designed to help improve the efficiency of inflight catering procurement across the world, based on industry best practices.

The SICA template will be included in the IATA Airport Handling Manual, which contains all the industry-approved policies and best practices to support safe and efficient ground operations above and below the wing, and also in the ACA’s library of onboard catering resources. The template can be tailored to fit local contexts, laws, regulations, customs and practices, as well as the specific needs established when negotiating an agreement.

“The updated SICA is a significant achievement. Catering requirements are complex and a unique part of an airline’s service standard. SICA helps both airlines and caterers manage that complexity efficiently to achieve the results that travellers expect. And the collaboration between IATA and ACA has improved SICA by bringing together the expertise of both ACA and IATA. This was a successful first-time collaboration that we intend to continue and expand,” said Nick Careen, IATA Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety, and Security.

Fabio Gamba, director general of ACA added, “The updated SICA is a significant step that will benefit our respective members. The clarity that it brings to the intricate work needed to produce millions of inflight meals a day will help both airlines and caterers work more efficiently together. And we look forward to creating even more value for both our memberships in future collaborations.”

The full details of the template will be presented by IATA and ACA at a joint session at the 34th IATA Ground Handling Conference (IGHC), taking place in Paris, France from 31 May to 2 June, 2022.