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Home » Areas of Activity » Cargo » New IATA Air Waybill Conditions of Contract - CSC Resolution 600b
New IATA Air Waybill Conditions of Contract effective 1 July 2010
The amended Air Waybill (AWB) Conditions of Contract (Resolution 600b) that harmonizes the application of the Montreal Convention liability limit for the transportation of air cargo across all routes worldwide has become effective on 1 July 2010 after receiving the necessary regulatory approval. This is part of continuing industry efforts to simplify the air cargo business and enhanced efficiency to shippers and forwarders.
The amendment to Resolution 600b standardizes the application of the 19 Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) Montreal Convention liability limit to all routes worldwide. It also provides increased certainty for claims handling and service determination. Prior to the new Resolution 600b, airlines had to administer multiple liability limits depending on the applicable regime. There was also uncertainty on the applicable liability limits on routes where no convention applied and also on the conversion equivalent of the non-existing French gold francs.
IATA advocates the global adoption of the Montreal Convention, which provides a secure legal foundation for IATA's e-freight initiative and supports the move towards the implementation of the electronic Air Waybill (e-AWB).
The acceptance by airlines of the Montreal Convention liability limit standard on all routes is a step forward for the air cargo industry. Governments also need to do their part by ratifying the Montreal Convention. This will pave the way for the expedited implementation of e-freight globally. IATA will continue to engage governments for the rapid adoption of the Montreal Convention.
Download Resolution 600b - Air Waybill Conditions of Contract (pdf)
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is there a grace period for the use of existing AWB stock after 1 July 2010?
IATA Carriers should implement the transition to the new AWB as soon as possible. Under IATA Resolution 600a, IATA Carriers are given until their next AWB printing but in no event later than 18 months from the declaration of effectiveness to complete the transition. During the transition, they shall amend their Conditions of Carriage and notify their shippers of the new changes under Resolution 600b.
2. Are the footnotes in Resolution 600b to be printed on the reverse of the AWBs?
No. The footnotes are not to be printed on the AWBs.
3. What were the applicable liability limits prior to the new Resolution 600b?
Prior to the new Resolution 600b, airlines had to administer multiple liability limits depending on the applicable regime, such as:
- 250 French gold francs per kilogram under the Warsaw Convention (unamended)
- 17 Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) per kilogram under the Warsaw Convention amended by Montreal Protocol No. 4
- 19 SDRs per kilogram under the Montreal Convention 1999
- 19 SDRs per kilogram for all carriage to or from the United States
4. What is the SDR and how is it converted to local currencies?
The SDR is defined by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). More information can be found on the IMF website:
5. According to Article 22.3 of the Montreal Convention 1999 (MC99) the liability for the carrier is 17 SDR/kilogram. Why is it mentioned that the limit under this Treaty is 19 SDR/kilogram?
Under Article 24 of the Convention, every 5 years ICAO can review the limits based on an inflation facto. Last year ICAO updated the liability limits for damage, delay or destruction of cargo from 17 SDR/kilogram to 19 SDR/kilogram based on the inflation factor.
6. Is Resolution 600b mandatory from 1 July 2010?
As of 1 July 2010, the new Resolution 600b is declared effective and binding on all IATA Members including those non-Member Carriers interlining through the Multilateral Interline Transport Agreement.
7. Does Resolution 600b apply to Express and Courier shipments also?
Resolution 600b was established to facilitate proper handling and facilitation of IATA multilateral cargo interlining among its Member airlines including those non-Member airlines signatory to the "Multilateral Interline Transport Agreement - Cargo" (MITA).
Express shipments are typically handled outside of the regular cargo process with single entity control - i.e. not interlined. If the express company wishes to interline with other IATA carriers through the MITA, it would have to use the standard IATA air waybill with the currently effective Conditions of Contract found in Resolution 600b printed on the reverse. If they are not interlining with other IATA Carriers through the MITA, they are free to apply their own standards, procedures and protocols (including their own Conditions of Contract) for their express shipments.
8. Is there a document indicating the amendments to Resolution 600b?
The amendments to Resolution 600b adopted at the 32nd meeting of the Cargo Services Conference (CSC/32) are indicated in the CSC/32 FAR (pdf).
9. Is Resolution 600b available in Spanish or French?
Resolution 600b is published by IATA in English only.
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