‘No Paper, Thanks’

(Air Cargo News)

Swiss WorldCargo has been selected by IATA to pioneer the introduction of a new ‘e-freight’ facility. To recognise its status, Swiss is introducing a new motto: ‘No paper, thanks!’ From the beginning of 2009 Swiss will record and handle cargo consignments in electronic form.

“We are honoured to be chosen by IATA to trial e-freight in a practical working environment and help this new facility achieve its worldwide breakthrough as swiftly as possible,” said Markus Loeffler, senior manager e-freight, Swiss WorldCargo.

“We see our selection as a ‘paperless pioneer’ by the airline sector’s umbrella organisation as a clear confirmation that Swiss WorldCargo is one of our industry’s most innovative cargo service providers. But we also view it as an incentive and a commitment to further refine this forward-looking cargo handling approach.”

The new e-freight facility will initially be introduced at Zurich Airport – again on IATA’s initiative. In practical terms, this means that not only Swiss WorldCargo, but all the parties involved in the local logistics chain will exchange their consignment details online.

IATA’s overall aim is to ensure that air cargo consignments are handled electronically as extensively as possible by the end of 2010.

“E-freight represents a quantum leap in the air cargo sector,” said Oliver Evans, chief cargo officer at Swiss International Air Lines. “And as one of its pioneering practitioners, Swiss WorldCargo will be playing a key role in ushering-in this new paperless era.”