The executive director of the Airforwarders Association (AfA) has warned that changes to the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Direct Air Waybill (DAWB) framework could expose freight forwarders to significant new legal and insurance liabilities.

According to AfA, the revised framework, which came into effect on July 1, 2026, could alter contractual relationships between airlines, shippers and freight forwarders, potentially making forwarders responsible for obligations traditionally borne by the shipper, including cargo misdeclarations, concealed dangerous goods and packaging failures.

“Freight forwarders should not be expected to assume liability for cargo they neither own, pack, nor control,” said AfA executive director Brandon Fried.

“The revised framework risks shifting responsibility away from the party creating and controlling the risk and onto an intermediary whose role has not fundamentally changed, creating potentially significant legal, operational, and insurance consequences for freight forwarders.”

AfA is advising its members to obtain written confirmation from each airline on which contractual framework will apply before tendering cargo, and to consult their insurers to determine whether existing liability policies remain appropriate under the revised arrangements.

Fried added: “Forwarder liability insurance is designed around the services freight forwarders actually perform, not around assuming shipper obligations.

“Businesses should not assume their existing cover will automatically respond if contractual liability changes. Smaller and medium sized freight forwarders, in particular, should carefully review both their contractual position and insurance arrangements before accepting shipments under the revised framework.”

The association also raised concerns over reports that implementation of the revised framework may vary between airlines, creating additional uncertainty for forwarders operating across multiple carrier networks.

“The possibility that all airlines may not implement these changes in the same way creates unnecessary confusion at a time when the industry needs clarity,” Fried said.

“We strongly encourage freight forwarders to seek written confirmation from every airline regarding the contractual framework being applied, rather than assuming a consistent approach across the market.”

AfA said it supports industry efforts to strengthen air cargo safety, including measures to address the transport of dangerous goods, but believes any changes that fundamentally alter contractual liability should be subject to full industry consultation and accompanied by clear legal and operational guidance.

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