newstodate.aero
Aug 30, 2011 (newstodate): The process of implementing IATA's e-freight project in Iceland still remains on the shelf.
The process was launched in May, 2009, at a kick-off meeting between IATA's cargo service manager Nordic & Baltic and members of the country's air cargo community, led by Icelandair Cargo representatives headed by Bertel Olafsson, Icelandair Cargo Manager Cargo Systems.
One e-freight trade lane between Keflavik and Amsterdam was opened in November 2009, later followed by a second e-freight trade lane between Keflavik and London Heathrow.
But since then, the process has lost steam.
-The main reason is that there are only few forwarders in Iceland, and actually only one has been active in promoting the e-freight concept, says Mr Olafsson.
-Also Icelandair Cargo has been very occupied with implementing a new cargo system, Cargospot, with the completion of the last remaining modules, including the e-freight capability, still pending. We have thus not maintained a focus on e-freight, which will, however, return as we have fully migrated to Cargospot.
-At the same time IATA is also campaigning for the abolition of the pater AWB by 2014, which will undoubtedly also add to the pressure on implementing e-freight, says Mr Olafsson.
The process was launched in May, 2009, at a kick-off meeting between IATA's cargo service manager Nordic & Baltic and members of the country's air cargo community, led by Icelandair Cargo representatives headed by Bertel Olafsson, Icelandair Cargo Manager Cargo Systems.
One e-freight trade lane between Keflavik and Amsterdam was opened in November 2009, later followed by a second e-freight trade lane between Keflavik and London Heathrow.
But since then, the process has lost steam.
-The main reason is that there are only few forwarders in Iceland, and actually only one has been active in promoting the e-freight concept, says Mr Olafsson.
-Also Icelandair Cargo has been very occupied with implementing a new cargo system, Cargospot, with the completion of the last remaining modules, including the e-freight capability, still pending. We have thus not maintained a focus on e-freight, which will, however, return as we have fully migrated to Cargospot.
-At the same time IATA is also campaigning for the abolition of the pater AWB by 2014, which will undoubtedly also add to the pressure on implementing e-freight, says Mr Olafsson.