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The International Air Transport Association is supporting five pilot projects, "e-freight pilots", to test standards, processes and technical solutions of a paper-free e-freight system which, if implemented, would save the industry $ 1.2 billion annually, according to airfreight industry sources. The projects, scheduled for implementation in the current year itself, will link the air cargo markets in Canada, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Singapore and the UK.

Accordingly, Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, KLM, Singapore Airlines and British Airways, in cooperation with members of Freight Forward International and the Customs authorities concerned, will use the year-long test period to develop, analyse and refine standards for e-freight.

The current international air cargo shipment comprises up to 38 documents whose annual volume is enough to fill 39 Boeing 747 freighters. However, as the sources point out, for the proposed e-freight programme to work at full potential, it will require participation of a large number of stakeholders, including industry bodies, customs administrations, airlines and freight forwarders.

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IATA pilots `e-freight' projects

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