Airports on Air Waybills

LC VIEWS - Single Window Q&A No. 86 - May 15, 2008

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Question from V.V.W.:
I have a question from following case.

L/C called for shipment:

from airport of departure: London

to airport of destination: Hong Kong

Document required:

Airwaybill ...........

A forwarder's air waybill was presented to issuing bank, and indicated airport of departure as "London" and airport of destination as "Hong Kong".

According to ISBP rule no. 141, the air transport document must indicate the airport of departure and airport of destination. It also mentions an example, i.e., LHR/London Heathrow, which represents the name of airport should be indicated on air waybill.

Now, the forwarder air waybill submitted indicates "London" and "Hong Kong", instead of actual names of airports. Are they violated the ISBP rules no. 141 and 142?

Thank you in advance!

VV

Response from T.O. Lee:
As far as UCP 600 is concerned, the AWB states what is stated in the DC, "London & Hong Kong". It complies.
Having said that, going outside the UCP 600 box, there may be a problem in large cities like London, New York and Paris where there is more than one commercial (not military) airport in the same city. The IATA code for each airport in the same city is different and hence specifies the airport of departure or destination as the case may be. So if a general airport description is used, the carrier may have a chance to carry the cargoes to the wrong airport in the same city. Why? Simply because the Murphy's Law is always applicable whether being incorporated in the contracts or not.
As air transport is fully computerized, the carrier's computer may only accept IATA codes, not general description of airports, and this may delay the transport as the operator has to find out which airport the shipper indents to ship the cargoes from or to.
I have suggested ICC Banking Commission to accept BIMCO codes for charter party bill of lading but my suggestion is not accepted. I am sure very soon queries like this one will surface in charter party bills of lading.
Best regards,
T. O.

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