Knowledge articles

What is an Air Waybill?

What is an Air Waybill?

The AWB is to air freight what a Bill of Lading is to ocean and a CMR is to road transport. It evidences the agreement between shipper and carrier and lists key shipment details. In practice, the freight forwarder often prepares the AWB on the shipper’s behalf. Airlines will not accept cargo without an AWB.

What information does an AWB contain?

• Shipper and consignee details

• Issuing carrier/agent (incl. IATA/agent code)

• Airports of departure and destination and optional routing/flight info

• Pieces, gross/chargeable weight, dimensions/volume

• Nature and quantity of goods (incl. special handling codes/ Dangerous Goods where applicable)

• Freight and other charges (prepaid/collect), currency

• Optional declared value for carriage/customs and signature of shipper/agent
  (as required/used by carriers)

AWB number: structure and use

An AWB number has 11 digits: XXX‑YYYYYYYZ

• XXX = 3‑digit airline prefix

• YYYYYYY = 7‑digit serial

• Z = check digit (unweighted modulus‑7)
  Use this number to track your shipment with the airline/forwarder.

HAWB vs. MAWB

• HAWB – issued by the forwarder to the shipper for individual shipments in a consolidation.

• MAWB – issued by the airline to the forwarder and covers the entire consolidation.

e‑AWB (electronic Air Waybill)

The e‑AWB is the digital equivalent of the paper AWB and is rapidly becoming the industry standard thanks to efficiency and sustainability gains.

AWB vs. Ocean Bill of Lading

An AWB is non‑negotiable and not a document of title; it does not transfer ownership. An Ocean B/L can be negotiable and used to transfer title.

FAQs

• Who issues the AWB?
  Typically the freight forwarder prepares it on behalf of the shipper; issuance by the airline is not mandatory.
• When is the AWB issued?
  After the cargo is accepted for carriage by the airline (at which point the MAWB is generated).
• Where do I find the AWB number and how do I track?
  At the top of the document (format XXX‑YYYYYYYZ); use this number on the airline/forwarder tracking portal.
• Is paper still required?
  Increasingly, the e‑AWB replaces the paper document while preserving the same contractual force.