IATA says Dubai is e-freight ready

Dubai: Dubai has been named by the global aviation watchdog International Air Transport Association (IATA) as one of the 11 new locations ready for e-freight.

The IATA yesterday announced that 11 new locations have been identified as ready for e-freight. These are: US, Dubai, Luxembourg, France, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Iceland, Denmark and Norway.

IATA e-freight requires that business, technical and legal frameworks are in place to allow airlines, freight forwarders, customs administrations and governments to seamlessly exchange electronic information and e-documents instead of paper.

"The momentum to rid air cargo of costly paper processes is building quickly," said Giovanni Bisignani, Director General & CEO of IATA.

"Already we are living in six locations today. We will be operating at 14 locations by year-end."

Since 2007, e-freight has been operational in six locations: Canada, Sweden, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Netherlands.

A further three — Germany, Mauritius and South Korea – have launched projects to go live this year.