With 152’000 electronic air waybills (e-AWB) in September 2013, the global e-AWB penetration reached 9.6%, even as Deutsche Post (DHL) and United Parcel Service (UPS) ranked high among freight forwarding companies in its usage.
The growth represents an additional 1% compared to the previous month and an increase of 4.3% in the past twelve months, according to International Air Transport Association (IATA) report.
On drivers of e-AWB adoption, IATA report via e-AWB monthly report indicated that e-AWB adoption kicked off 2011 with Cathay Pacific mandating it in Hong Kong. Since then other airlines work with the freight forwarders to make paperless vision a reality.
Meanwhile, Qatar Airways has gone live with e-AWB out of Doha. A key player in the Middle East region recently launched its paperless program. Since September 2013, Qatar Airways Cargo uses e-AWB from Doha to various airports in their network. Next step is to roll-out e-AWB from Dubai. e-AWB is available for counter sales and service cargo shipments.
Furthermore Qatar Airways Cargo is working with freight forwarders to start doing e-AWB in key locations around the globe in the coming months. The airline’s targets are particularly ambitious in Doha, with a plan to achieve 75% e-AWB penetration by the end of 2013.
The Multilateral e-AWB Agreement provides a standard agreement that airlines and freight forwarders can use to establish electronic contracts of carriage and transact electronically across the globe. More than 29 global, regional, and national industry associations, including FIATA, TIACA, FAPAA, AFA, BIFA and CIFFA, have confirmed their support for the Multilateral e-AWB Agreement and encourage their members to join.