Thai air cargo community set to speed up e-AWB adoption

An e-freight workshop held in Bangkok was attended by airlines and a mix of independent and multinational forwarder members of local associations, including the Thai Airfreight Forwarders Association (TAFA) and the Thai International Freight Forwarders Association (TIFFA).
The workshop, organised by Bangkok Flight Services (BFS) and Worldwide Information Network (WIN), focused on steps each participant can take this year to move Thailand up the ranks to become a leader in e-AWB adoption.
David Ambridge, general manager of BFS, said: “Collaboration like this is the future not only for e-AWB but for many other issues we face in the air cargo industry.
“Already since this session we have seen a major Thai forwarder sign up and actually begin e-AWB shipments and I have also had renewed interest from two major European airlines.
He added: “This is all good news and I look forward to seeing more and more e-AWB shipments moving through our cargo terminal.”
BFS, the largest handler at Bangkok airport, is a joint venture between ground handler Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) and Bangkok Airways. It has been working with WIN to increase transmission of e-AWB data in Thailand since the beginning of the year.
“In the last few months, the momentum of e-AWB has really accelerated globally,” said Isabella Anderson, project manager, cargo e-business adoption at IATA.
“Close collaboration among stakeholders at airport level is key in building up support and drive adoption of e-AWB.”
BFS and WIN are now planning a further e-freight workshop for the Thai air cargo community.