Paperless air freight is getting closer and closer for Lufthansa Cargo: As of now, consign-ment-specific security information can be sent by the customer to the freight airline elec-tronically. The electronic Consignment Security Declaration (eCSD) has been officially rec-ognised by the German Federal Aviation Office for transport from Germany.

The aim of introducing the eCSD is to provide evidence in electronic format that suitable measures have been applied to avoid risks in the transport of air freight and air mail. This contains information on how, when and by whom, among other things, a consignment has been secured.

The standardisation of this process and the digital documentation of the evidence replace redundant security information in a range of formats. After extensive tests carried out by Lufthansa Cargo in conjunction with Kühne + Nagel and the IATA airline association, there are no further obstacles in the way of electronic transmission of the security information.

"The successful piloting of the eCSD process represents a significant increase in the effi-ciency of air freight transport in Germany," reported Thilo Schäfer, Vice President of Global Handling Management at Lufthansa Cargo. "As all the information on the security measures taken is available in electronic form at all times, potential delays and disruptions in the transport process can be significantly reduced for all those involved in the eFreight initia-tive."

Lufthansa Cargo is one of the pioneers in the implementing of eFreight in the industry. By 2015, paperless air freight should be the standard for all possible Lufthansa Cargo connec-tions.