What an air waybill is
The air waybill (AWB) is the contract of carriage for air cargo, issued by the airline or a forwarder acting for it. It is non-negotiable — not a document of title — and carries an 11-digit number: a three-digit airline prefix, seven digits identifying the shipment, and a check digit.
House and master air waybills
- Master AWB (MAWB) — issued by the airline to the forwarder for a consolidated shipment.
- House AWB (HAWB) — issued by the forwarder to each shipper whose goods are inside that consolidation.
How it compares to an ordinary waybill
| Feature | Air waybill | Ordinary waybill / delivery note |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Airline or forwarder | Sender or carrier |
| Number | 11-digit AWB number | Your own reference |
| Format | Standardised (IATA) | Whatever you design |
| Tracks the shipment | Yes | No |
| You can create it | No | Yes — waybill maker |
Reading an air waybill
An AWB is a dense form, but the fields that matter to a shipper are few. The AWB number (three-digit airline prefix, seven-digit serial, one check digit) is printed top right and is the tracking reference. Shipper and consignee boxes name the parties; for a house AWB the consignee is usually the forwarder’s destination agent. Airport of departure and destination use three-letter IATA codes. The nature and quantity of goods box carries the description the airline accepts; the declared value for carriage is normally “NVD” (no value declared) unless you pay for higher liability. Chargeable weight is the higher of actual and volumetric weight, which is why light, bulky cargo costs more than its scale weight suggests.
Two boxes catch people out. Handling information is where special instructions go (perishable, do not stack, notify on arrival); anything written elsewhere is ignored. And the charges boxes show whether freight is prepaid by the shipper or collect from the consignee — the wrong tick here delays release at the destination.
Tracking an air waybill
Every airline publishes an AWB tracking page; enter the eleven-digit number and it shows booking, acceptance, departure, arrival and delivery events. If you shipped through a forwarder you will usually have a house AWB number, and the forwarder’s system maps it to the master. The airline’s site tracks the master, not the house number.
When you need each
Ship by air and the forwarder produces the AWB. Your own waybill or delivery note still has a job: it is the document that travels inside the consignment listing exactly what is there, and it is what the receiver checks and signs.
Questions
Is an air waybill a document of title?
No. It is a contract of carriage and a receipt for the goods; it does not transfer ownership.
What does AWB stand for?
Air waybill.
Can I make my own air waybill?
No. It is issued by the airline or forwarder. You can create the waybill or packing document that travels inside the shipment.
Keep reading
Make the document: invoice creator · receipt maker · quotation maker · waybill maker · Word templates