IATA sets paperless air cargo deadline unless you can't make it
Date
12/17/2018 2:23:02 PM
(MENAFN- Bangladesh Monitor) Montreal : Airline industry body IATA (International Air transport Association) has been embarrassed into issuing an electronic airway bill [e-AWB] statement of madness.
With a history of wildly missed air cargo industry e-AWB annual take-up targets, the association's latest press announcement on the subject of a paperless future declares that, from new year's 2019 - the electronic airway bill will become "the default contract of carriage for all air cargo shipments".
But this directive applies only on "enabled trade lanes", it lamely adds, whilst confirming that you must use e-AWBs from that date - unless circumstances mean that you cannot.
According to the latest IATA statement - which offers no supporting comments or quotes from any named officers - "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."
But then comes the killer point: "A paper airway bill may still be required due to applicable international treaties, national law, or as bilaterally agreed between the parties."
In other words, IATA has set a paperless deadline, but if it doesn't work for you, then forget it.
IATA also refers to air cargo's green credentials, stating that reduced paper usage offers "a positive impact on the environment."
Although there are many major players now using in-house and shared paperless processes, such as the main airlines, forwarders, ground handlers and more enlightened airports, these inevitably hit a brick wall in the majority of paper-dominated regions, especially in widespread parts of Africa, India, South America, North America and Asia.
Corrupt practices, especially those involving Customs personnel, is another big factor holding back digitalisation and remains a taboo subject, one that apparently goes un-discussed by IATA or any other air cargo related associations.
Such an arrangement would quickly differentiate the good from the bad and might dramatically speed up the rate of change.
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