Cathay Pacific Airways has completed the switch to electronic air waybills in Hong Kong as it moves towards a paperless environment in the airfreight industry.
The e-AWB initiative covers all online destinations from Hong Kong to which Cathay Pacific and sister airline Dragonair fly. The airline plans to implement 100 per cent e-AWB from all its overseas stations by the end of 2012.
It says the benefits of e-freight included shortening the shipping cycle, reduced costs, faster customs clearance, the elimination of problems resulting from loss or misplaced documents, and reduced paper usage.
The International Air Transport Association chose nine territories and airlines in which to run the e-AWB pilot programme, including Hong Kong and Cathay Pacific.
Electronic freight is one of the initiatives under IATA’s Simplifying the Business programme, which aims to change the way the air transport industry operates and result in better service for cargo operators and lower costs for the industry. IATA targets to have 100 per cent e-AWB globally by the end of 2014.
Cathay Pacific director cargo Nick Rhodes said: “The e-AWB programme will simplify the current process and bring improved operational efficiency and accuracy for the airfreight industry in Hong Kong, helping it to play a leading role in the industry worldwide. The programme could not have been implemented without the great support of agents and forwarders in Hong Kong.”
