INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF FREIGHT FORWARDERS ASSOCIATIONS (FIATA)

國際貨運代理協會聯合會 Updated 22 Oct 2026

·     Managing risks from new IATA Air Waybill practices

From 1 July 2026, changes to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Air Waybill (AWB) will fundamentally alter the risk profile for freight forwarders, who under the new terms, will be the shipper of the goods in the AWB and assume primary liability to carriers. This shift exposes freight forwarders to direct financial and operational risks that were previously borne by shippers, making it critical that they take proactive steps to protect their position.

Freight forwarders should ensure that their insurance arrangements adequately cover this expanded liability and urgently review their standard terms and conditions to confirm that shipper indemnities extend to these new exposures and have been properly incorporated and accepted. If changes are required to be made to terms and conditions, then those changes need to be approved by financiers and insurers for freight forwarders who finance and insure their business.