The International Air Transport Association (IATA), Shanghai Customs, Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Shanghai Airport Authority, China Eastern Airlines, and Shanghai E-port have signed a Letter of Initiative (LOI) on March 10 to jointly promote e-Freight in Shanghai.
Under the terms of the LOI, the six organizations will cooperate to improve efficiency and reduce costs in existing processes by phasing out the need for a security check stamp on paper air waybills, eliminate the need for paper air waybills and facilitate the implementation of paperless customs clearance at Shanghai Pudong Airport and optimize and streamline data sharing between the parties.
The industry target is also to achieve 45% e-air waybill penetration globally by the end of 2015, and 80% by the end of 2016.
E-freight pilots have been implemented at Shanghai-Pudong Airport, Guangzhou-Baiyun Airport and Beijing-Capital Airport. In June 2014, China Cargo Airlines successfully launched the pilot e-air waybill pilot at Shanghai Pudong Airport.
