Cathay Pacific Airways has introduced the electronic air waybill (e-AWB) process in Singapore and Malaysia to promote a greener and more efficient airfreight industry.
The airline said it was the first to switch to full e-AWB mode in Hong Kong on January 1, 2011, eliminating the need for all paper documents when issuing air waybills for the transportation of airfreight.
“With e-AWB extended to Cathay Pacific’s overseas stations in Singapore and Malaysia, shippers now stand to benefit from reduced costs, faster customs clearance, the elimination of problems resulting from loss or misplaced documents, and reduced paper wastage,” the airline said.
Nick Rhodes, Cathay Pacific director for cargo, said: “This is an important development for Cathay Pacific and the airfreight industry in general as we are the first airline to implement e-AWB outside its home base.”
He added that the airline will continue to work with service partner Global Logistics System HK Ltd to fully implement the e-AWB throughout the airline’s network by 2014.
Electronic freight and electronic air waybills are initiatives covered under the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Simplifying the Business Program, which aims to change the way the air transport industry operates in order to improve the service of cargo operators and lower costs for the industry. IATA targets to have 100 percent e-AWB globally by the end of 2014 and 100 percent e-freight by the end of 2015.
Photo: Alaskan Dude
