In 1978 the U.S. Congress deregulated the aviation industry in the United States through the Airlines Deregulation Act.  This resulted in the dismantling of the conference administered agency distribution systems of IATA for both cargo and passenger.

The investigations in 1979 conducted under the Competitive Marketing of Air Transportation Investigation by the now defunct CAB (Civil Aeronautics Board)  resulted in the Boards final decision to disapprove the arrangement by which IATA cargo agents exercised exclusive commercial representation of the international airlines in the U.S. Marketplace, and, the withdrawal of the long-standing anti-trust immunity attached to various IATA agency program resolutions as of 1984.

Upon consulting member airlines and representatives from the U.S. air freight forwarding industry, IATA concluded that a substitute for its Cargo Agency Program would have to be created to bridge the gap upon the demise of the conference administered program.

These circumstances lead the birth of Cargo Network Services, also commonly referred to as CNS in 1985.

Originally based in Garden City (Long Island) New York, just east of JFK International Airport the organization moved to Miami, Florida in June of 2008. 

Its primary purpose has been, and continues to be, the development and distribution of programs and services to all providers in movement of air cargo in an effort to help them achieve their respective business strategies while fostering an environment of professionalism, innovation and mutual respect and understanding of each others challenges.  

Gone are the days of rivalry.  Today's air cargo industry understands that we are all dependent on each other for each others success.