IATA e-freight pilots go live!

According to plan, IATA is launching six e-freight pilots today, Nov 5th, 2007. This significant achievement marks the beginning of the simplification of air cargo and is the direct product of effective collaboration between seven key cargo airlines (Air Canada, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, KLM, Martinair, SAS and Singapore Airlines), freight forwarders (DHL Global Forwarding, Panalpina, Kuehne+Nagel, Schenker, TMI Group-Roadair, Jetspeed) and ground handling agents.

Paper-free cargo will become a reality on key trade routes connecting Canada, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Singapore, Sweden and the U.K. At each location cargo experts from participating airlines, freight forwarders, ground handling agents, local customs administrations and airport authorities worked together closely over the past 10 months to prepare the pilots.

The pilots

E-freight pilots will systematically test for the first time common standards, processes, procedures and systems designed to replace paper documents that typically accompany air freight with electronic information. During the initial phase, selected shipments will travel without a number of key documents that make up the majority of the paperwork, including the house and master air waybills. Results from the pilots will be used to expand e-freight to other territories.

IATA e-freight requires that business, technical and legal frameworks are in place to allow airlines, freight forwarders, customs administrations and governments to seamlessly exchange electronic information and e-documents. The six pilot locations were selected based on their ability to meet these criteria along with offering network connectivity and sufficient cargo volumes. To find out who is participating in each pilot read the Pilots Scorecard.

The road ahead

Beyond the pilots the project has determined the strategy and action plan for the e-freight programme including freight and document types. There are 4 project streams that support the delivery of e-freight:

• Planning and Development
• Implementation
• Data Quality and Technology Management
• Processes and Standards

Download the IATA e-freight Strategy and Approach for more information.

The StB Global Team

Contact us to share your comments, questions and ideas!