Multilateral e-AWB
Agreement
Sign Once, Connect All !
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Background
 The Air Waybill (AWB) is the contract of carriage
between Airline and “Shipper”
 The e-Air Waybill (e-AWB) is an electronic cargo
contract that replaces the paper AWB:

Face of the paper AWB is replaced with
electronic messages

Reverse of the paper AWB is replaced with an
e-AWB agreement
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The e-AWB Agreement
Face
Reverse
Paper Air
Waybill
e-AWB
+
Electronic messages
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+
e-AWB
Agreement
The “Bilateral” challenge
 In 2010, RP1670 “model EDI Agreement” was
established, which enabled Airlines and
Forwarders to do e-AWB
 Airlines and Freight Forwarders bilaterally
signed the Agreement and started doing e-AWB
 As more Parties adopted e-AWB, the number of
“bilateral” agreements increased exponentially
 Each Agreement needs to be reviewed by
Legal, costing time and money for both Parties
 The burden of signing multitude of Agreements
was found to be slowing down e-AWB adoption
in the industry
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Bilateral e-AWB Agreements
(IATA RP 1670)
The “Multilateral” solution
 IATA with the industry developed a
“multilateral” e-AWB Agreement as
new IATA Resolution 672
 Parties will sign once with IATA
enabling them to do e-AWB with all
other Parties:
MULTILATERAL
AGREEMENT
 Airline with all participating
Freight Forwarders
 Freight Forwarder with all
Multilateral e-AWB Agreement
(IATA Reso 672)
participating Airlines
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What does it contain?
 The Multilateral e-AWB Agreement provides the Legal framework for
parties to conclude cargo contracts by electronic means
 It includes provisions for:




the consent to do e-AWB
the high level operational aspects for e-AWB
the confidentiality and security of data
the rights and obligations of parties
 It does not modify:


the conditions of contract
the conditions of carriage
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How does it work?
Step 1: Joining
 Airlines join the Agreement
 Freight Forwarders join the Agreement
Step 2: Activation
 Airline and Freight Forwarder have bilateral
discussions on locations and start dates
 Airline sends “Activation Notice” to Freight
Forwarder confirming the bilaterally decided
location(s) and dates
Step 3: Start to do e-AWB
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How to join? (1/2)
Airlines:
 Airline signs the Airline Submission Form ONCE to join the IATA
Multilateral e-AWB Agreement

Airlines specify the Airports where they accept e-AWB

Airlines can add or remove Airports as needed
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How to join? (1/2)
Freight Forwarders:
 Freight Forwarder signs the Multilateral e-AWB Agreement ONCE
with IATA
 Freight Forwarder can also add its Affiliates to the Multilateral e-
AWB Agreement
 Freight Forwarder can add or remove Affiliates as needed
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Are we obliged to do e-AWB?
 Parties are NOT obliged to do e-AWB with each other
 Provides the Legal framework to do e-AWB without having to
engage in hundreds of bilateral Legal discussions
 Agreement becomes effective as to an Airline and Freight
Forwarder at a location upon Airline sending an “Activation Notice”
to Freight Forwarder
 Participants can also de-activate a particular location or withdraw
completely from the multilateral e-AWB agreement
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What are the benefits?
 No more lengthy and costly Legal discussions to start e-AWB:
 Airlines will have a single agreement with IATA, enabling them
to accept e-AWB from all participating Freight Forwarders
 Freight Forwarders will have a one-stop shop agreement that
will allow them to tender e-AWB shipments to multiple airlines in
numerous airports around the globe
 Parties still remain in control of where and when e-AWB should start
depending on the technical and operational readiness
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Has someone tested it?
 A group of Airlines and Freight Forwarders trialed the Multilateral e-AWB
Agreement through a Proof of Concept exercise
 PoC participants (as of 4 April 2013):
 15 Airlines: AF, BA, CX, DL, EK, IB, KL, LH, LX, LA, UC, QF, QT,
LO, TK
 9 Freight Forwarders: DGF, Kintetsu, Aramex, Rhenus, Logwin,
Expeditors, SDV, Schenker, DSV
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Timelines
Oct 12
Dec 12
Nov 12
Jan 13
Mar 13
Feb 13
Apr 13
E-AWBAG
Conf. Call
FF, Airlines
Sign up for
Proof of Concept
Proof of Concept
(PoC) Trials
PoC Recommendations
to Resolution 672 &
Process Automation
CSC First
Transmittal
CSC webinar
CBPP
CPCMG
Proof of Concept (PoC)
Continued
E-AWBAG
Conf. Call
CBPP
CPCMG
IFCC
Endorsment
IFCC
CSC
Adoption
CBPP
CPCMG
E-AWBAG: E-AWB Advisory Group, CSC: Cargo Services Conference, IFCC: IATA/FIATA Consultative Council,
13 Management Group
CBPP: Cargo Business Processes Panel, CPCMG: Cargo Procedures Conferences
CSC
Government
approvals
Process Automation
History in the making
When
What
November 2012
e-AWB Advisory Group endorses the First version
The very first version of the Multilateral e-AWB Agreement was endorsed by the e-AWB Advisory
Group (e-AWBAG) in November 2012. The e-AWBAG is comprised of airlines and freight forwarders
actively involved in the e-AWB initiative.
December 2012
Proof of Concept trials launched
The draft Multilateral e-AWB Agreement was trailed by a group of Airlines and Freight Forwarders
through a Proof of Concept (PoC) exercise in December 2012.
January 2013
Enhanced version developed and endorsed
Based on feedback received from the PoC participants, enhancements were made to the draft
Multilateral e-AWB Agreement, which were endorsed by the e-AWB Advisory Group in January 2013.
February 2013
FIATA-AFI endorses the Multilateral e-AWB Agreement
The Agreement was then reviewed and endorsed by FIATA-AFI through the IATA/FIATA Consultative
Council (IFCC) in February 2013 with some minor amendments.
March 2013
CSC adopts Multilateral e-AWB Agreement as Resolution 672
The 35th Cargo Services Conference held in Doha on 10 March 2013, adopted the Final version of the
Multilateral e-AWB Agreement as the new IATA Resolution 672.
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When can we join?
 Airlines and Freight Forwarders can join the IATA Multilateral e-AWB
Agreement now
 The Agreement will come into effect only upon Resolution 672 being
declared effective by IATA (expected in the coming months)
 The joining procedures for Airlines and Freight Forwarders are
provided here: www.iata.org/e-awb-multilateral
 If you have any questions about the Agreement or the joining
procedures, please contact IATA Cargo at cargo@iata.org
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More information
www.iata.org/e-awb-multilateral
Questions to: cargo@iata.org
e-AWB on-line training
http://www.iata.org/training/courses/pages/tcgp72.aspx
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