e-AWB (electronic Air Waybill) is the electronic equivalent of the traditional paper AWB Through electronic data interchange (EDI) messages, e-AWB is the contract of carriage between the “Shipper” and the “Carrier”. Shipments can be differentiated by special handling codes (SHC):
- EAW: Special handling code indicating shipment is e-AWB with no accompanying documents.
- EAP: Special handling code indicating shipment is e-AWB with accompanying documents.
On 3rd April 2023, IAG Cargo introduced a policy to charge 10.00 GBP / 12.00 EUR / 13.00 USD for Paper Air Waybills (AWBs) on all IAG Cargo routes. To reaffirm our commitment to being a digital-first carrier, this charge will be increased for paper AWBs on eAWB-eligible routes from Monday 20th November 2023 as outlined below.
Currency and fees as below:
GBP - 30.00 (previously 10.00)
EUR - 24.00 (previously 12.00)
USD - 26.00 (previously 13.00)
Non-eAWB routes - where the paper AWB is required, this fee will no longer apply from Monday 20th November 2023.
If you are sending an eAWB, you are not required to deliver a traditional paper AWB.
Exceptions apply - please check with your local station if you require a paper AWB.
1. Sign up to the IATA Multilateral Agreement (IATA Resolution 672). Further information can be found here.
2. Download our e-AWB activation form. Once completed please send to our e-AWB support team.
3. IAG Cargo will review customer FWB quality.
4. If the customer meets the FWB quality criteria they will receive an activation notice, signed by IAG Cargo.
5. Customer can now use e-AWB on applicable routes.
We are e-AWB compliant on over 90% of our available routes.
IAG Cargo can currently accept e-AWB from customers at all online and offline stations except stations in the following countries:
Andorra
Argentina
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Belarus
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Egypt
El Salvador
Georgia
Indonesia
Jordan
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Moldova
Montenegro
Monaco
Philippines
San Marino
Serbia
Slovakia
Sri Lanka
Venezuela
Vietnam
You may need to provide a copy of your e-AWB receipt at acceptance. Please contact your local station for specific requirements.
IAG Cargo is constantly working to improve its e-AWB network so please check back here for future updates.
For any questions or issues related to the electronic AWB, you can contact the IAG Cargo support team who will assist you and/or handle the potential problem directly with the agent.
For help signing up for e-AWB please contact e-AWB support.
For questions about the eAWB benefits and general guidance please contact your Account Manager.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 09:00 to 18:00 (ECT), except Spanish bank holidays.
For more information about e-AWB, visit the IATA website.
To sign the multi-lateral please click here.
Download our activation form through this link. Once completed please send to our e-AWB support team.
January 2022
1. Does the resolution amendment mean that electronic air waybill (e-AWB) will become mandatory from 1 January 2019?
No, it means that from 2019 the normal practice should be e-AWB. Paper documents are still usable, but should be considered nonstandard. The decision taken by the Cargo Services Conference is a very important step: it recognizes that “e-AWB” reflects the majority of shipments on enabled trade lanes. The old IATA rules stated that paper AWBs was required and electronic was optional (i.e. subject to agreement by the business partners). From 1 January 2019, the rules will dictate that electronic AWBs are the standard method on enabled trade lanes and that paper AWBs are optional (i.e. subject to agreement by the business partners).
2. Why did IATA take this decision?
When the air cargo industry raised this initiative at the end of 2017, more than 50% of the shipments were using the e-AWB as their digital shipment record. Over the past three years, the number of e-AWB almost doubled (+100%) while the total number of AWBs increased by 20%. The growing number of stakeholders using the electronic document demonstrated that the industry is ready to embrace full digitalization. IATA considered that this was the right momentum to capitalize on the increase of e-AWB adoption.
3. What is the long term view for e-AWB industry target?
The IATA Cargo Advisory Council (CAC) and the IATA Cargo Service Conference (CSC) endorsed an industry target to 100% e-AWB by end of 2022.
4. Will this change have an impact on how we do e-AWB?
No, in terms of implementation, the change does not affect the current e-AWB processes or standards.
Send FWB/FWBS for each AWB FWBs are allowed until the merchandise is delivered in the terminal (FSU/RCS) The eAWB does not exempt from the rest of the documentation (CUSTOMS/AVI/HUM/etc)
5. Where can we find information on airlines capable of handling e-AWB?
Information can be found on the IATA Matchmaker.
6. What are “enabled trade lanes”, and what proportion of cargo is now shipped on enabled trade lanes?
Around 70% of the total shipments by air are transported on feasible/enabled trade lane. A “feasible/enabled trade lane” is defined as such when the country of origin and the country of destination ratified the same treaty - either the Montreal Protocol No. 4 of 1975 (MP4) or the Montreal Convention of 1999 (MC99).
7. Will the IATA Multilateral Agreement (MeA) be required?
Yes, the MeA (or at least a bilateral agreement) will be necessary. We need an agreement process to comply with the international conventions requiring to have the consent of the shipper, among other reasons. It is also necessary to sign a MeA per country.
8. How can we sign the IATA multilateral agreement?
Contact IATA Multilateral e-AWB Agreement (MeA) mea@iata.org
9. There is another Multilateral Agreement required?
Yes, there is another Multilateral Agreement with the airline (IAG Cargo) eawb.support@iagcargo.com, by signing this agreement it will be activated for 075 and 125
10. Wich is the process for the IAG CARGO activation?
FWB for all the Shipments
At least 5 FWB messages with no error in the past 3 month
Sign with IATA
Sign with IAG Cargo
11. All paper documentation can be eliminated?
No, the eAWB does not exempt from the rest of the documentation (CUSTOMS/AVI/HUM/etc)
12. Under what circumstances will the paper AWB be preferred over e-AWB?
Paper AWB may still be required due to applicable international treaties, national law, or as bilaterally agreed between the parties.
13. What will happen with those enabled trade lanes where customs administrations still require the submission of a paper AWB?
Airline members are strongly recommended to comply with any authorities’ requirements. Therefore, they should be able to provide a paper AWB to any authority that asks for it. To help e-AWB adoption in such cases, IATA developed the Single Process concept.
14. Should airlines provide a list of destinations that require paper copies of AWB to Freight Forwarders customers?
To help the adoption of e-AWB adoption in such case, IATA developed the Single Process concept.
15. What is Single Process?
To help the adoption of e-AWB adoption IATA developed the Single Process concept.
16. Can I activate a FWB as eAWB if I use ECC?
No, freight forwarder can only use EAW/EAP and ECC/ECP is only for the airlines
Freight forwarder: The purpose of the EAW/EAP is to allow forwarders to signal to the airline whether the shipment is tendered with accompanying document (e.g. DGD) or pouch
EAW: e-AWB shipment without accompanying documents AND without pouch EAP: e-AWB shipment with accompanying documents OR pouch
Airlines: The purpose of the ECC/ECP codes is to identify whether a printout of the AWB needs to accompany the shipment. This information is for the airline and GHA.
ECC: A paper AWB is not required ECP: A paper AWB needs to be printed to comply to any applicable legislation
17. What type of technology can a freight forwarder use to transmit the required EDI data to IAG Cargo?
SITA messages (telegraphy based on CARGO IMP messages)
CCS (companies that transport the message from origin to destination)
XML (CARGO IMP messages but with XML format)
IAGCargo.com, for those clients who have not developed a system for sending CARGO IMP messages, IAG Cargo create a corporate tool to send these messages in in an easy and simple way.
18. Is there any penalty for using paper on lanes where e-AWBs are enabled?
On 3rd April 2023, IAG Cargo introduced a policy to charge 10.00 GBP / 12.00 EUR / 13.00 USD for Paper Air Waybills (AWBs) on all IAG Cargo routes. To reaffirm our commitment to being a digital-first carrier, this charge will be increased for paper AWBs on eAWB-eligible routes from Monday 20th November 2023 as outlined below.
Currency and fees as below:
GBP - 30.00 (previously 10.00)
EUR - 24.00 (previously 12.00)
USD - 26.00 (previously 13.00)
Non-eAWB routes - where the paper AWB is required, this fee will no longer apply from Monday 20th November 2023.
If you are sending an eAWB, you are not required to deliver a traditional paper AWB.
Exceptions apply - please check with your local station if you require a paper AWB.
