The paper air waybill (AWB) is a critical air cargo document that constitutes the contract of carriage between the 'shipper' (direct shipper or freight forwarder acting on behalf of the shipper) and the 'carrier' (airline).
An e-AWB is the term IATA uses to describe the interchange of electronic data (EDI) messages, in lieu of a paper AWB, to conclude the contract of carriage. It is the electronic equivalent of a paper AWB.
Qatar Airways Cargo is a signatory to IATA's multilateral e-AWB agreement and has appointed Cargo Community Network (CCN) Singapore as its Cargo Community Systems partner network-wide.
The introduction of single process at our world-class hub at HIA allows customers to deliver cargo to any of our acceptance counters at Qatar Airways Cargo e-AWB activated stations without a paper AWB, provided the required electronic data has been transmitted to us in advance by the customer.
We encourage our customers to join this valuable initiative aimed at improving business efficiency and sustainability and reap the cost and time benefits of booking air freight without a paper AWB.
Qatar Airways Cargo is pleased to offer Single Process to e-AWB customers in partnership with our ground handler, Qatar Aviation Services (QAS).
Due to regulatory or other operational reasons, there are some destinations where e-AWBs cannot be used and paper AWBs are still required. As a consequence, customers need to determine when a paper AWB has to be generated and have to maintain two parallel shipping processes for e-AWB and paper AWB, as appropriate.
Single Process enables customers to send electronic data directly to the cargo airline, thereby removing the need to provide a paper AWB with the shipment. The cargo airline or its ground handler will determine if a paper AWB needs to be produced, based on airline instructions. If a paper AWB is required, the cargo airline or its ground handler will print it with the conditions of contract on the reverse, using the exchanged electronic data on behalf of the freight forwarder.
Qatar Airways Cargo has introduced Single Process at its hub at HIA and has created a special documentation unit within QAS. This unit takes care of paper AWB printing for those destinations that still require a paper AWB.
View the IATA document on Single Process