Digital interlining is replacing the outdated, time-consuming methods of booking shipments within the airfreight industry. Historically, interline bookings—where multiple carriers collaborate to transport cargo across different routes—could take days to confirm, often requiring extensive email chains, phone calls, and manual checks.
With digital interlining, this process is now completed in mere minutes, marking a new era of efficiency and connectivity in global air freight.
“Digital interlining is a fundamental change in how interline shipments are booked,” said Toby Hillier, Senior Business Development Manager – Airline Solutions at WebCargo by Freightos.
“We’ve moved from an antiquated system to one where airlines and their partners can buy, sell, and confirm interline bookings in a matter of minutes. It’s a significant improvement for efficiency and sales reach.”
Previously, the process of booking interline cargo could span up to four days, with delays caused by manual rate negotiation, capacity confirmations, and time zone differences. Many bookings relied on FFR messages, emails, or phone calls, all of which introduced inefficiencies.
“Interline bookings traditionally required airline sales and reservations teams to have a deep understanding of routing and rate-building,” Hillier explained.
“But even then, securing ad hoc pricing and space often involved back-and-forth communication, which could stretch over days. Now, with platforms like ours, airlines can quote rates and confirm space in seconds.”
The benefits are evident in the numbers. West East Airlines Representative, a leading Israeli GSA, is a major user of WebCargo’s digital interlining system and has already broken records. Two of its agents completed over 1,500 interline bookings each in under a year—a milestone previously unimaginable in the industry.
The reduction in booking times is not just about speed—it’s also about strategic advantages for airlines. With instant booking confirmations, carriers can better manage their available capacity and dynamically price their services based on market demand. This agility helps airlines maximise yields and minimise empty space on flights.
“Airlines like El Al are using our platform to sell capacity effectively, especially in challenging markets like Tel Aviv,” Hillier noted.
“By digitising their interline bookings, they’re able to respond to demand faster, optimise their flights, and support their partner airlines and GSSAs more efficiently.”
For GSSAs, the benefits are equally transformative. Acting on behalf of multiple carriers, GSSAs often struggled with the delays and complexities of traditional interlining methods. By adopting digital tools, they can now secure space instantly and provide faster service to their clients.
One of the most revolutionary aspects of digital interlining is its ability to overcome time zone barriers. Traditional methods often faced delays because airline teams in different regions couldn’t synchronise their efforts. With WebCargo’s system, such limitations are a thing of the past.
“Time zone differences are no longer a problem,” Hillier said.
“Customers and airlines can interact and transact at any time, without having to wait for someone to wake up on the other side of the globe.”
The success of digital interlining has paved the way for its global expansion. While it is already making waves in transatlantic routes, there is significant potential for growth in underserved regions like Latin America and Asia.
“We’re connecting more carriers and GSSAs every day,” Hillier stated.
“Our vision is to make digital interlining as commonplace and straightforward in cargo as it is in passenger bookings. The potential for connecting city pairs and streamlining operations globally is enormous.”
