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IATA to mobilize the industry toward the 2014 mandate for 100% e-AWB

The replacement of the paper Air Waybill with the electronic Air Waybill (e-AWB) is a critical element for the air cargo industry to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

There is an agreed standard (Recommended Practice 1670 “Model Agreement for EDI”) in place to support the e-AWBs. Airlines and freight forwarders are now implementing the e-AWB and the IATA Cargo Committee has endorsed the targets to move to 100% e-AWB on all feasible international routes by then end of 2014.

To promote e-AWB and communicate the 2014 mandate given by the IATA Cargo Committee, IATA has launched a campaign with its member airlines and the local freight forwarder associations. As the first step of this campaign, Des Vertannes, IATA's Global Head of Cargo, personally informed each Head of Cargo of the IATA member airlines on the new mandate and the approach that IATA will take to drive the global rollout

As the second step, the IATA Cargo managers around the world are engaging in April and May with the airlines and local freight forwarder associations locally to raise awareness. The objective is to ensure that industry stakeholders can obtain the full benefits of the e-AWB, and to identify potential show stoppers as well as best practices and success stories. 

The results of the e-AWB campaign is expected to be released in June this year.

Technology solution providers: critical players for the success of e-Cargo

E-freight and e-AWB are not just about removing paper, but are also about providing up-to-date and easily accessible shipment information to all stakeholders in the supply chain.

There have been several examples of innovative technology solutions capitalizing on the potential of e-Cargo standards:

• In the Netherlands, the local airfreight community will join forces this year to build an open e-freight platform and introduce internationally accepted innovations. Cargonaut in conjunction with TRAXON Europe and the Cargo Community Network (CCN) offers a new tool for air freight logistics chain partners to share information.
• Following the recommendation of the IATA e-AWB Advisory Group asking airlines to provide a web portal solution for customers without EDI capabilities, Lufthansa Cargo, is using an AWB Data Capture application that will make e-AWB possible for small and medium-sized customers. More details
• Unisys is working with Air Canada and Kuehne + Nagel to migrate to the IATA Cargo-XML standards. More details 

By using the various technology solutions, freight forwarders and their logistics partners can now electronically exchange 'trade' documents such as commercial invoices, certificates of origin, packing lists, as well as 'transport' documents' such as air waybills and house waybills.  

Emirates SkyCargo completes first paperless flight out of Nairobi

Emirates SkyCargo, has marked a milestone with its inaugural paperless freighter flight between Nairobi and Amsterdam. EK9952 which left Nairobi for Amsterdam on March 27th became the first flight out of Nairobi with all shipments processed electronically.

 Read the Emirates Press Release

Amsterdam-Incheon to become a major e-freight trade-lane

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Korea’s Incheon International Airport have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on e-freight, in which the two major cargo gateways will cooperate in the promotion of “e-freight” (paperless air cargo transportation) as a means of facilitating business between them.

Read the Schipol Airport Press Release