According to www.aircargonews.net, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) has formally requested a three-month postponement of the IATA Direct Air Waybill (DAWB) framework amendments, moving the effective date from 1 July 2026 to 1 October 2026.
Formal Review Process Not Completed
FIATA exercised its procedural right under Cargo Agency Conference (CAC) Resolution 801c to initiate a formal review of the proposed DAWB changes. However, the association stated it was unable to complete the review in time for the original implementation deadline. In its official press release, FIATA noted:
“Despite repeated requests by FIATA, the review process has not been capable of being completed before the scheduled date of effectiveness.”
The association specifically cited delays in convening the IATA-FIATA Consultative Council (IFCC), which is mandated to formulate recommendations to the CAC. According to FIATA, the IFCC was not convened “in sufficient time” to deliver its assessment prior to the 1 July 2026 deadline. The request for delay aims to uphold the integrity of the established governance mechanism designed to evaluate changes affecting contractual rights and liabilities across the air cargo value chain.
Airline Implementation Uncertainty
FIATA has written to airlines worldwide seeking “urgent clarification” on their practical implementation plans for the revised DAWB framework as of 1 July 2026. The association highlighted that early indications suggest inconsistent adoption, with some carriers reportedly declining to implement the changes on the original date. This divergence raises operational risks for freight forwarders who must align internal processes, documentation systems, and insurance coverage with airline-specific requirements.
Stéphane Graber, FIATA director general, emphasized the foundational purpose of the review mechanism:
“The review mechanism exists for an important reason: to ensure that significant changes affecting the rights, responsibilities and liabilities of all affected market players — including freight forwarders, shippers and airlines — are properly considered before they take effect.”
He added that without a completed review, airlines must provide “complete transparency regarding the contractual framework they intend to apply from 1 July 2026.”
Liability and Operational Misalignment Concerns
Under the current DAWB model, freight forwarders act as agents of the shipper — not the airline — when tendering cargo. IATA argues this creates risk exposure for airlines, particularly with high-risk shipments such as lithium batteries, because airlines contract with an entity they have not vetted for anti-money laundering or sanctions compliance. Carlos Tornero, IATA’s director of legal services, stated in a related article:
“Airlines have essentially entered into a contract with an entity they do not know and have not performed due diligence, anti-money laundering or sanctions and embargo compliance checks.”
However, forwarders warn that the proposed changes could shift liability to them even when they are not the named shipper and lack operational control over critical elements like Dangerous Goods declarations, packaging, or cargo documentation. Australia’s Freight & Trade Alliance raised specific concerns about unintended liability transfer for Dangerous Goods shipments. FIATA concluded that aspects of the proposed framework may generate legal uncertainty and create an “unintended misalignment between liability, operational control and insurable risk.”
Industry-Wide Implications for Supply Chain Professionals
For supply chain professionals, especially those managing global airfreight operations, the unresolved status of the DAWB framework introduces immediate planning challenges. Forwarders cannot reliably update standard operating procedures, renegotiate service-level agreements with shippers, or adjust insurance policies without clarity on the final contractual terms. The 3-month delay request reflects not just procedural caution but a pragmatic need to prevent fragmented, airline-by-airline interpretations that would complicate cross-border shipment execution. As the 1 July 2026 deadline approaches, operational readiness hinges on whether airlines issue binding guidance — and whether the CAC grants FIATA’s request for extension to 1 October 2026.
Source: Air Cargo News
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
