Swiss WorldCargo is offering a single-process electronic air waybill (e-AWB) system that will allow forwarders to tender all shipments to an airline without a paper AWB, even on trade lanes for which a paper AWB is required. The company said the new process will accelerate the adoption of the e-AWB throughout its network. Presently Swiss WorldCargo can accept the single-process e-AWB in Zurich, Montreal, Los Angeles, New York’s JFK and Copenhagen. It plans to add six to eight more locations by the end of the year. Swiss WorldCargo said this was possible due to the collaborative efforts with ground handling partners Cargologic, Swissport and Lufthansa Handling. Additionally, during a four-month pilot phase, customers Panalpina, Brinks, Unitrans, Schenker and Malca Amit were collaborators, as well.
In Switzerland, the transformation has been driven by IG Air Cargo (Interest Group Air Cargo Switzerland), of which Swiss WorldCargo and its handling partners are founding members.
IATA’s target of 45 percent industry-wide usage of the e-AWB systems by the end of this year currently stands at 29.4 percent market penetration.
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