# Direct Air Waybill: New IATA Rules Increase Risk for Freight Forwarders **Category:** Regulation | **Source:** IATA / FIATA / HFW | **Published:** 2026-10-01 | **Updated:** 2026-10-05 **Tags:** IATA, Direct Air Waybill, DAWB, Luftfrachtbrief, Luftfracht, Spediteur, Forwarder, Haftung, Versicherung, Gefahrgut, Logistik News, Transport News, Fracht News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News, Seefracht, Digitalisierung, Zoll > With Direct Air Waybill, the freight forwarder can now assume shipper responsibilities. Without clear agreements with the airline, liability and insurance gaps threaten to occur. --- As of July 1, 2026, new rules from the International Air Transport Association, IATA for short, apply to the Direct Air Waybill. An Air Waybill is the air freight bill. With the Direct Air Waybill, the actual shipper appears in the "Shipper" field, while the freight forwarder submits the shipment to the airline as an intermediary. Previously, the freight forwarder in this arrangement was often treated as an agent of the shipper. Going forward, the airline and freight forwarder must first clarify in writing which obligations, liabilities, and exemptions apply. If there is no special agreement, the freight forwarder generally assumes the same obligations toward the airline as it would for a shipment in its own name. This can become costly. Claims are possible due to incorrectly declared goods, concealed dangerous goods, faulty customs declarations, sanctions violations, or security issues. The freight forwarder can thus be held responsible for information originating from the shipper that it can only verify to a limited extent. This is precisely what shipper and freight forwarder associations are warning against. The Global Shippers Forum sees new uncertainty and potential additional costs. FIATA, the world association of freight forwarders, had demanded a review before implementation and pointed out unresolved legal, operational, and insurance-related issues. The rule is nonetheless not a blanket requirement for all air freight. It applies specifically to Direct Air Waybills. Additionally, a different bilateral agreement can be concluded with the airline. Therefore, it is now important to examine not only the air freight bill but also review the agency agreement, airline conditions, and own forwarder terms together. --- Freight forwarders should clarify with each airline whether and how the new IATA rule will be applied. This includes a written statement on liability distribution. A discussion with the insurance provider is also necessary. Standard cargo liability insurance does not necessarily fully cover additional shipper obligations. Shippers must be prepared for stricter controls. Information on goods, packaging, hazardous materials, customs, and export controls should be documented and verifiable. Freight forwarders will likely increasingly demand such declarations in writing and will want to pass liability back to the customer. This may result in additional effort and higher costs. In short: With Direct Air Waybills, freight forwarders can no longer assume they are merely intermediaries. Contracts and insurance coverage now need to be on the table. --- The amended rules have been in effect since July 1, 2026. The Direct Air Waybill is affected, not every air freight shipment. Airline and freight forwarder should agree on liability and exemptions on a bilateral basis. Without a special agreement, the freight forwarder is generally subject to shipper obligations toward the airline. Risks exist particularly with dangerous goods and incorrect commodity declarations. Customs, sanctions, and security violations can also be relevant. FIATA demanded a review of the changes and a postponement to October 1, 2026 before implementation. IATA advises freight forwarders to clarify the conditions directly with each airline. Existing liability insurance policies may contain coverage gaps. ## Related Entities ### Glossary - [Shipper](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/shipper) - [Air Waybill](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/air-waybill) - [Freight forwarding](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/freight-forwarding-2) - [Dangerous goods](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/dangerous-goods) - [Air Waybill](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/air-waybill-4) - [Freight forwarder](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/freight-forwarder) - [Agency Agreement](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/agency-agreement) - [Agent](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/agent) - [Air Cargo](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/air-cargo) - [Airborne](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/airborne) - [Air waybill](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/air-waybill-3) - [Hazardous Goods](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/hazardous-goods) - [export control](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/export-control-2) - [Air Waybill](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/air-waybill-7) - [Sanctions](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/sanctions) - [Cargo release](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/cargo-release) - [Direct Air Waybill](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/direct-air-waybill) --- *Canonical URL: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/direct-air-waybill-neue-iata-regeln-erhoehen-das-risiko-fuer-spediteure-20261001162821](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/direct-air-waybill-neue-iata-regeln-erhoehen-das-risiko-fuer-spediteure-20261001162821)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/direct-air-waybill-neue-iata-regeln-erhoehen-das-risiko-fuer-spediteure-20261001162821](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/direct-air-waybill-neue-iata-regeln-erhoehen-das-risiko-fuer-spediteure-20261001162821)*