The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently issued this formal announcement, which I am quoting in full:
Effective 1 January 2019, the electronic Air Waybill (e-AWB) will become the default contract of carriage for all air cargo shipments on enabled trade lanes.
This key industry milestone ushers air cargo into a new era where digital processes will be the norm and paper processes will be the exception.
e-AWB brings numerous benefits such as:
- Elimination of paper based processes
- Improved efficiency and reliability of the overall cargo handling process
- Faster delivery times
- Decrease handling errors
- Positive impact on the environment with reduced paper usage
IATA introduced e-AWB in 2010 with the objective to initiate the digitalization of the air cargo supply chain. Ever since, the e-AWB initiative has been a key enabler to the digitalization and transformation of our industry, as data availability and quality is critical to deliver innovative solutions and enhance customer experience. The growing number of stakeholders using e-AWB demonstrates that the industry is ready and committed to embrace the full digitalization of the air cargo industry.
IATA encourages all air cargo industry stakeholders to switch to e-AWB at the earliest unless a paper air waybill may still be required due to applicable international treaties, national law, or as bilaterally agreed between the parties.
You will find all necessary information for implementing e-AWB in the IATA e-AWB Implementation Playbook.
For specific questions, please contact your local airline representative. For general information on e-AWB, visit www.iata.org/eawb.
Preparing PH airfreight industry stakeholders for e-AWB
With the initiative of Philippine Multimodal Transport and Logistics Association, Inc (PMTLAI), Cargo Data Exchange Center and Singapore-based Cargo Community Network (CCN) conducted e-AWB training from Nov 21-23 for PMTLAI members. The sessions were attended by 125 participants from 87 PMTLAI member companies.
Topics discussed encompassed:
- e-AWB overview
- CCNhub system demonstration; Live demonstration of:
- E-Booking
- E-FWB creation and submission
- E-FHL creation and submission
- Printing of e-FWB
- Shipment Track and trace
- Adding stock AWB
- IATA rates table
- HS codes rates table
- Other charges codes table
- AWB request
- Reports
Additional Information
Based on my brief email clarification with IATA Regional Cargo Manager Rodrigo Reyes, “feasible trade lane” may be defined as such when a country of origin and country of destination has ratified the same treaty–either the Montreal Protocol No. 4 of 1975 (MP4) or the Montreal Convention of 1999 (MC99).
It is suggested that the forwarder contact its local airline representatives to know more about e-AWB feasibility out of a given station to a given destination.
Leo V. Morada is a subject expert on IT applications in Philippine port operations with more than 30 years’ senior IT management experience implementing technology solutions in port operations, electronic transactions with customs & port authority, and air/sea port community system applications. He is Director of Cargo Data Exchange Center, Inc, a Value Added Service Provider accredited by the Bureau of Customs and Philippine Economic Zone Authority. He may be contacted at lmorada3f1@yahoo.com.