Swiss WorldCargo is accelerating its implementation of the electronic air waybill by using it as the preferred means of transporting freight.

The carrier began offering the e-AWB approach to all customers at Amsterdam Schiphol from January 1 and Paris-Charles de Gaulle from February 1. Zurich, Singapore, London Heathrow and Milan will become “e-airports” on March 1, and other major airports will follow in the coming months, according to SWISS.

“The e-AWB 360 campaign marks another important milestone on the front of paperless cargo,” said Christine Barden, head of transportation processes at Swiss WorldCargo. “At Swiss WorldCargo we have a holistic approach and we work extensively with regulators, freight forwarders, ground-handling agents and other key stakeholders worldwide to achieve a paperless and more secure supply chain. In Zurich, for example, we were the first airline to adopt the eCSD ‘Electronic Consignment Security Declarations’ which complements the paperless acceptance of air cargo.”

e-AWB 360 is an voluntary programme set up by the International Air Transport Association to help airlines implement the e-AWB through offering a single process, so paper AWBs can be eliminated even on trade lanes where they are required.