Dubai first in Middle East to launch IATA e-freight

Dubai: Dubai is ushering in a new era for air cargo, as it becomes the first city in the Middle East to launch the IATA e-freight initiative, and only the 14th e-freight location worldwide to deliver paper-free cargo.

The ground breaking IATA e-freight initiative went live on Tuesday, and is now operational on the trade lanes between Dubai and Singapore, Hong Kong and London.

Led by Emirates Airline and Dubai Customs, the Dubai IATA e-freight implementation team started work in June 2008 and delivered IATA e-freight on schedule, in a co-coordinated exercise which also involved Dnata, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Schenker, DHL Global Forwarding, Kuehne and Nagel, Modern Freight Company, Freightworks, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

IATA e-freight is one of five "Simplifying the Business" projects led by IATA to improve service and cut costs. It puts in place business, technical and legal frameworks to enable airlines, freight forwarders, customs administrations, ground handling agents and governments to seamlessly exchange electronic information and e-documents instead of paper.

IATA e-freight eliminates the need to send 13 paper documents with air cargo shipments, effectively streamlining processes, improving speed and reliability, and reducing costs.

Ram Menen, Divisional Senior Vice President Cargo for Emirates said: "The launch of IATA e-freight in Dubai takes us into a new, more efficient era for air cargo. Emirates has been one of the key supporters of this initiative, as we see clear benefits in having paper-free operations efficiency and direct contribution to the bottom line. IATA e-freight is a revolution for a $55 billion business that generates 12 per cent of airline revenues and has broad implications for e-trade and the global economy."