Making Traxon: air freight electronic communications are heading into a new era, but they need air waybills to join the ride.(EUROPE)

Just how far down the e-freight road has the air cargo industry gotten? Not half as far as many might expect, it turns out. Sure there are initiatives aplenty out there. In particular, Cargo 2000's continuing efforts and the International Air Transport Association's own e-freight project are both on the paperless trail of adapting electronic methods to the industry's messaging and air waybill transfer needs.

But what is really happening in the engine room?

Traxon was set up by Air France and Lufthansa Cargo more than 15 years ago for the very purpose of advancing electronic tools on their behalf initially, and, for the air cargo industry more generally. Since its launch just before the Internet explosion, it has proved to be successful at meeting its brief even as new providers have come on the scene. Today, the company has become a recognized neutral provider of electronic systems to over 90 airlines, with also more than 9,000 forwarder offices subscribing to …