Why are special characters not allowed on an e-AWB?

Fixed-Length Format and character restrictions:

• Position-Based Data: The FWB version 17 format supports a limited set of characters due to its legacy design. Special characters, including those commonly found in email addresses, German special characters such as 'ä', 'ö', 'ü', 'ß', and special characters like '$', '%', '+', '"', '&', and '/' are not allowed. This limitation exists because the message format was designed when systems had more restrictions on character sets.

Compatibility with Old Systems:

• Older Systems: Many airlines use old systems that can't handle special characters properly.
• Standardization: Keeping characters simple ensures they work with these older systems.

Data Integrity and Security:

• Avoiding Errors: Special characters can be mistaken for commands, causing mistakes.
• Security: Limiting special characters helps prevent security issues, like harmful code.

Interoperability:

• Consistent Data Exchange: Using a limited set of characters ensures smooth communication between different systems.
• Global Standard: IATA's rules aim to create a standard everyone can follow easily.

Error Reduction:

• Simpler Processing: Using fewer characters makes processing data simpler and less prone to errors.
• Clear Communication: Special characters might look different on various systems, causing confusion.

Technical Constraints:

• Encoding Issues: Different systems handle characters differently, so using simple characters avoids problems.
• Storage and Transmission Limits: Older systems might have limits on the characters they can use.

By following these rules, the air cargo industry ensures reliable and secure data exchange.