MIAL receives IATA certification on paperless initiatives

FEB 6, 2015: International Air Transport Association (IATA) has rated GVK-Mumbai International Airport (GVK MIAL) as e-freight compliant for adopting paperless initiatives at the air cargo operations in Mumbai.

This initiative aims to minimise and subsequently eliminate the vast quantities of paper documents the air cargo industry relies on today to support movement of air freight. An average air cargo shipment generates up to multi different paper documents, many of them in multiple copies, resulting in increased shipment processing times and costs.

The e-freight concept was launched by IATA in 2006 as part of the StB (simplifying the business) programme and became an industry-wide initiative. Facilitated by IATA along with the endorsement of the members of the Global Air Cargo Advisory Group (GACAG), the project involves carriers, freight forwarders, ground handlers, shippers and customs authorities to effectively streamline processes, cut costs and improve speed and reliability.

In its roadmap towards achieving 100-per cent e freight in cargo operations, IATA has outlined three core components: First, engaging regulators and governments worldwide to create an ‘e-freight route network’ with fully electronic customs procedures and where regulations support paperless shipments; second, working collaboratively within the cargo supply chain to digitise the core industry transport documents, starting with the air waybill; and finally, developing a plan to digitise the commercial and special cargo documents typically accompanying airfreight today, in or outside of the ‘cargo pouch’.