FIATA seeks review of IATA Direct Air Waybill changes
The organisation raised legal, insurance and liability concerns, saying wider consultation is needed before proposed rules take effect on 1 July 2026.
The FIATA has called for a formal review of proposed changes to the Direct Air Waybill (DAWB) framework adopted at the recent IATA Cargo Agency Conference, citing concerns over legal, operational and insurance implications, as well as the need for stability in the global air cargo market. The proposed changes are scheduled to take effect on 1 July 2026.
FIATA said it has invoked the review mechanism under the IATA-FIATA Consultative Council (IFCC) framework, arguing that changes of this scale require broader consultation and industry-wide reassessment involving affected stakeholders. According to the organisation, the adopted measures introduce major changes to the DAWB framework with implications for contractual responsibilities, liabilities and indemnities across the air cargo supply chain.
The organisation said consultations with freight forwarders, airlines, insurers, legal experts and shipper representatives raised concerns that parts of the framework may create legal uncertainty and weaken alignment between liability, operational control and insurable risk. FIATA added that these consultations helped identify possible approaches towards a more balanced and workable framework while addressing concerns raised by airlines.
While recognising airline concerns related to compliance, due diligence and risk visibility, stakeholders stressed that responsibility should remain with the party carrying out operational control and performing the relevant functions in the transport chain. FIATA said several stakeholders warned that the current proposals may increase liability exposure for freight forwarders, even when they act only as agents of the shipper and do not control cargo information or compliance processes.
Stakeholders also raised concerns about the timing of the proposed changes, saying measures of such significance require enough time for legal, operational and insurance assessment across the industry. FIATA noted that the airfreight sector is already facing geopolitical, operational and commercial disruptions, making legal clarity and stability across supply chains particularly important.
FIATA said IATA communicated the proposals to the freight forwarding community in January 2026, shortly before Regional Joint Council and IFCC consultations, leaving limited time for assessment. The organisation added that the proposals were adopted with limited opportunity for wider consultation and impact review ahead of the planned implementation date of 1 July 2026, raising concerns among freight forwarders, shippers and insurers. Insurers involved in consultations also said uncertainty around liability could affect the insurability of risks and claims handling predictability.
FIATA further said shipper and insurer representatives had expressed concerns over the possible impact on legal clarity, contractual structures and claims handling processes. According to the organisation, there is concern that the proposed changes may increase disputes over contractual responsibility and liability allocation across the air cargo chain.
The organisation said it has formally requested a structured review of both the proposed changes and implementation timeline through the IFCC, alongside further consultation with stakeholders including shippers and insurers. FIATA said it remains committed to working with IATA and industry stakeholders to develop balanced and workable solutions that improve clarity and stability across the global air cargo system.
