Cargoitalia ' Italy's all-cargo flag carrier ' has been uniquely approved by Italian Customs to submit electronic T1 forms from September 1st. The move will enable the airline to cut transit times for inbound cargo whose final delivery is by road.

The T1 form, used throughout Europe, covers all shipments arriving from countries outside the EU, and being transported by surface to a final destination in the EU. The previous manual system required presentation of the paper document within normal Customs office hours: Monday to Friday 09.00-18.00, and Saturday 09.00-14.00.

Using a direct link between its own IT system and that of local Customs, Cargoitalia can now present the T1 electronically around the clock, seven days a week. Unless Customs requires a physical inspection, the goods are then free to move immediately to their final destination. Cargoitalia is the only airline in Italy to have gained approval to use the expedited system.

Says Felice Campi, Cargoitalia's Ground Operations Manager: 'Under the previous paper-based system, if goods arrived on one of our flights after the Customs offices had closed, they had to wait until the following morning, or even until after the weekend, before we could obtain Customs clearance and truck them to the customer. Even for local customers, this would then normally mean a delivery after lunch.'

Campi continues: 'Using the new electronic system, we will be able to move the goods almost immediately. This means we can arrange for the shipment to be at our customer's warehouse as soon as it opens the next morning, even if they are some distance from Milan. And if the customer requires early delivery outside normal working hours, this can also be achieved.

'Cargoitalia can now save several hours for its customers, and also offer a service tailored more closely to their requirements.'

Cargoitalia's success in obtaining permission to submit electronic T1 forms follows its approval earlier in 2011 to submit the new electronic Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) message - part of the new EU Customs ICS (Import Control System) regime which applies to all EU member states. Cargoitalia was the first Italian airline to pass Customs tests and start using the ENS message for imports to the EU ' a full four months before it became compulsory.