Frequently Asked Questions Last updated 05/13

Introduction What is e-Freight, is it simply a matter of not sending paper with a shipment? In December 2004 IATA identified that the average air freight shipment generated more than 30 individual documents and commenced an industry wide project to remove the reliance on paper in the air freight supply chain. While the long term vision is the removal of all paper, there is a realisation that some paper is still required and therefore the current project mandate is a ‘paper-free’ supply chain. Currently there are 20 documents in scope to become redundant under the e-Freight banner. The most important of these is the air waybill (e-AWB).

What is e-AWB and what is the relationship of this project to e-Freight? e-AWB is an electronic air waybill and can be used in lieu of the paper version of the waybill document to give details about the shipment and assert the conditions under which it is being carried. IATA is aiming for 100 per cent of air freight shipments between participating countries to be using an e-AWB by the end of 2015. The industry targets for ramping up to 100 per cent e-AWB in 2015 are as follows: • •

20% e-AWB by end of 2013 50% e-AWB by end of 2014

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100% e-AWB by end of 2015

Prior to the implementation of e-AWB the origin carrier and the freight forwarder must sign an agreement for electronic data interchange (EDI). Among other purposes this will replace the conditions of carriage currently on physical air waybills. To initiate an e-AWB shipment, the shipper will send the completed air way bill data through an electronic message (FWB) to the airline.

What are the benefits? The benefits to the industry are considered to be cost savings through the decrease in document processing costs; speed through a reduction in processing times; quality and reliability through autopopulation of key data and a reduction of ‘lost’ documents; improved visibility; simplicity; regulatory improvements and; environmental through the elimination of paper documents.

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What is in scope for Qantas’s e-AWB rollout? As at the end of 2012, all shipments originating from Hong Kong, Singapore, London, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York where Australia is the final destination will not carry the physical air waybill to destination. The physical air waybill is presented at lodgement to cover the conditions of carriage in absence of a signed EDI agreement.

EDI Agreement What is the IATA Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Agreement? The IATA EDI is an industry standard agreement setting guidelines around the exchange of electronic data. It is to be entered into between the freight forwarder and the carrier. The agreement outlines conditions of carriage under which airfreight is moved between countries.

The EDI outlines that each shipment will be initiated by the freight forwarder sending an electronic shipment record before delivering the cargo to the carrier. Upon accepting the cargo as ready for carriage, the carrier will notify the freight forwarder electronically and thus concluding the contract of carriage.

Is Qantas Freight using the standard IATA RP1670 EDI Agreement? Qantas Freight has adopted the recommended IATA Bilateral Agreement (Recommended Practise RP1670) and is in the process of reviewing the Multilateral Agreement (RP672).

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What is the process for signing the EDI Agreement? To sign the Bilateral Agreement, please contact Ben Andrew (Manager Major Accounts) [email protected] for a copy of the standard EDI Agreement. Upon signing the agreement, it is your responsibility to notify all relevant entities that you have entered into an EDI agreement with Qantas Freight (if signed at a corporate level).

To sign the Multilateral Agreement, please submit the Multilateral Agreement submission form to IATA. The notice can be accessed from the IATA website.

What if the freight forwarder has its own EDI Agreement for the carrier to sign? Please send the agreement to Ben Andrew [email protected] for review.

Operating Procedures What does ECC, EAW and EAP all mean? •

ECC: the special handling code for a shipment using an electronic air waybill - stands for ‘Electronically Concluded Cargo Contract’.

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EAW: is the special handling code for an e-Freight shipment with no accompanying documents. EAP: is the special handling code for an e-Freight shipment with accompanying documents. ECC & EAW: is a genuine e-Freight shipment with an electronic air waybill and no accompanying documents. ECC & EAP: is a permissible e-Freight shipment with an electronic air waybill and paper copies of accompanying non-core documents.

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What about special handling cargo such as live stock and dangerous goods? Will there still be a document pouch? No air waybill will accompany special handling shipments. The document pouch that includes invoices, permits and certificates will still travel, as per current process. Our ground handling agents will place a pouch label for identification. We encourage our customers to remove the pouch where possible by scanning documents to the consignee at destination.

What about house air waybills? The house air waybills can travel with the document pouch; however we encourage our customers to use the FHL message in place of the physical house air waybill.

How will cargo be customs released and delivered without the air waybill? Customs release in Australia is completed electronically. No paper air waybill is required by Qantas to perform a delivery. If customs or quarantine requires a record, we do have the capability to print a copy of the air waybill from our systems at the freight terminals.

What will now trigger the notification to the consignee if there is no air waybill copy? The paper air waybill is not used as the trigger for notification. We encourage our customers to use QantasFreight.com as per current process, which will provide information on the latest shipment status. Alternatively, agents can use the kiosks in our terminals to check which shipments are available for collection.

Can Qantas Freight support FWB messages in XML format? Not at this time but we recognise the need to support XML and are reviewing our IT systems.

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Will Qantas Freight provide support in testing air waybill data quality? Yes. Data quality is crucial to the success of eAWB implementation. If you require assistance in data quality testing or have any questions relating to messaging, please contact Sophie Thevenin (eBusiness Technology) [email protected].

What version of FWB, FFM and FHL does Qantas Freight support? Qantas Freight can send and receive up to version 16 for FWB messages, version 4 for FHL and version 8 for FFM.

Who is responsible for inserting the ‘ECC’ code in the FWB? Qantas Freight will insert the ECC code into the FWB for all applicable e-AWB shipments and onforward the FWB to the ground handling agent at the origin port.

Why has Qantas Freight opted for a lane-by-lane approach in eAWB rollout? The process for accepting eAWB differs country to country. Qantas is focussing its rollout activities in countries that will accept electronic messages and if required, plain paper print outs of these messages in lieu of a copy of a traditional air waybill.

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