Air Waybill (AWB): What It Is, How to Read It
The Air Waybill is the single most important document in air freight. If you’re shipping cargo by air — whether 50 kg of electronics from Shenzhen or 10 tonnes of machine parts from Frankfurt — you need an AWB. This guide explains what it is, how to read every field, and the difference between a Master AWB and House AWB.
What Is an Air Waybill?
An Air Waybill (AWB) is a contract of carriage between the shipper and the airline. It serves three purposes simultaneously: it’s a receipt confirming the airline accepted your cargo, a freight bill showing charges, and a customs document required for import/export clearance.
The AWB is governed by the Warsaw Convention (1929) and the Montreal Convention (1999), which set international rules for air cargo liability. Every commercial air freight shipment requires one.
Key fact: Unlike a Bill of Lading (B/L) used in sea freight, an Air Waybill is non-negotiable. It cannot be endorsed or transferred to claim ownership of the goods. It’s a contract, not a title document.
AWB Number Format
Every AWB has an 11-digit number in the format: XXX-XXXXXXXX
| Part | Digits | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airline prefix | First 3 | Identifies the issuing airline (IATA code) | 020 = Lufthansa, 176 = Emirates |
| Serial number | Next 7 | Unique shipment identifier | 1234567 |
| Check digit | Last 1 | Calculated from serial (mod 7) | 0 |
Example: AWB 020-12345670 → Lufthansa Cargo, shipment #1234567, check digit 0.
Common Airline Prefixes
| Prefix | Airline | Prefix | Airline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 020 | Lufthansa Cargo | 235 | Turkish Cargo |
| 176 | Emirates SkyCargo | 157 | Qatar Airways Cargo |
| 180 | Korean Air Cargo | 074 | KLM Cargo |
| 057 | Air France Cargo | 172 | Cargolux |
| 160 | Cathay Pacific Cargo | 098 | Asiana Cargo |
MAWB vs HAWB: What’s the Difference?
There are two types of Air Waybills, and understanding the difference is essential:
| Feature | Master AWB (MAWB) | House AWB (HAWB) |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Airline / airline’s agent | Freight forwarder |
| Shipper listed | Forwarder (as consolidated shipper) | Actual shipper (your company) |
| Consignee listed | Forwarder’s agent at destination | Actual receiver (your buyer) |
| Used for | Airline ↔ forwarder contract | Forwarder ↔ shipper contract |
| Customs | May not show individual goods detail | Shows your specific cargo description |
| Tracking | Track on airline website | Track via forwarder |
How it works in practice: A freight forwarder collects cargo from 5 different shippers going from Shanghai (PVG) to Frankfurt (FRA). The forwarder issues 5 separate HAWBs (one per shipper). The airline issues 1 MAWB covering the entire consolidated shipment. At Frankfurt, the forwarder’s agent de-consolidates and delivers each shipper’s cargo using the HAWB.
What Fields Are on an Air Waybill?
A standard AWB (IATA format) contains these sections:
| Box | Field | What It Contains |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shipper’s Name & Address | Full legal name, address, contact of the sender |
| 2 | Consignee’s Name & Address | Full legal name, address, contact of the receiver |
| 3 | Issuing Agent | Freight forwarder or airline agent details |
| 4 | Airport of Departure | IATA 3-letter code (e.g., PVG, FRA, LAX) |
| 5 | Airport of Destination | IATA 3-letter code of final airport |
| 6 | Routing | First carrier, transit stops, flight numbers |
| 7 | Nature & Quantity of Goods | Description, number of pieces, commodity code |
| 8 | Gross Weight | Actual weight in kilograms |
| 9 | Chargeable Weight | MAX(actual weight, volumetric weight) |
| 10 | Rate / Charge | Rate per kg and total freight charges |
| 11 | Declared Value | For carriage and customs (NVD = No Value Declared) |
| 12 | Handling Information | Special instructions: DG, perishable, live animals |
How Chargeable Weight Works on the AWB
The AWB shows both actual weight and chargeable weight. Airlines bill based on whichever is higher:
Volumetric weight = Length × Width × Height (cm) ÷ 6,000
Chargeable weight = MAX(actual kg, volumetric kg)
Example: A box of clothing: 80×60×50 cm, actual weight 15 kg. Volumetric weight = 80×60×50 ÷ 6,000 = 40 kg. Since 40 > 15, the chargeable weight is 40 kg. You pay for 40 kg even though the cargo only weighs 15 kg.
Learn more: How to Calculate Volumetric Weight → | Air Freight Calculator →
How Many Copies of an AWB Are There?
A standard AWB is issued in 3 originals + 6–9 copies:
- Original 1 (green) — for the issuing carrier (airline)
- Original 2 (pink) — for the consignee (receiver)
- Original 3 (blue) — for the shipper (sender)
- Copy 4 — delivery receipt (signed by consignee)
- Copies 5–12 — for agents, customs, transit airports
In practice, most AWBs today are e-AWBs — electronic versions that eliminate paper. Over 70% of global air cargo uses e-AWBs as of 2025, per IATA.
e-AWB: The Electronic Air Waybill
The e-AWB is the electronic version of the paper Air Waybill. IATA’s e-freight initiative has been pushing adoption since 2010, and it’s now the standard on most major trade lanes.
Benefits of e-AWB: faster processing (no physical paper handoff), fewer errors (data entered once), lower costs ($2–$5 per shipment saved), environmental benefit (eliminating ~7,800 tonnes of paper annually), and easier customs compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Air Waybill (AWB)?
An Air Waybill is the contract of carriage between a shipper and an airline for transporting goods by air. It serves as a receipt, a freight bill, and a customs document. Unlike a Bill of Lading in sea freight, an AWB is non-negotiable — it cannot be used to transfer ownership.
What is the difference between MAWB and HAWB?
A Master AWB (MAWB) is issued by the airline to the freight forwarder. A House AWB (HAWB) is issued by the forwarder to the individual shipper. One MAWB can contain multiple HAWBs.
How many digits is an AWB number?
An AWB number has 11 digits: first 3 are the airline prefix (e.g., 020 = Lufthansa), followed by 7-digit serial number and 1 check digit. Format: XXX-XXXXXXXX.
Is an Air Waybill a title of ownership?
No. Unlike a Bill of Lading in ocean freight, an AWB is NOT a document of title. It cannot be endorsed or transferred.
Who issues the Air Waybill?
The MAWB is issued by the airline or its handling agent. The HAWB is issued by the freight forwarder.
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