AWB — What an Air Waybill Is and How It Works

What is an AWB?

The term AWB stands for Air Waybill. For anyone new to air freight, an AWB is the basic shipping document you’ll see on nearly every airplane shipment. It serves three main practical roles: it is the contract of carriage between the shipper and the airline or carrier, it acts as a receipt showing the airline has accepted the goods, and it provides the shipment details customs authorities and handlers need to move the cargo.

Who issues an AWB and who uses it?

Typically an AWB is issued by the airline or by a freight forwarder/agent acting on the airline’s behalf. The main parties named on the AWB are the shipper (who sends the goods), the consignee (who will receive them), and the issuing carrier or agent. Airlines, freight forwarders, customs brokers, ground handling agents and customs authorities rely on the AWB to identify and process the shipment.

What information is on an AWB?

An AWB contains standard fields that describe the shipment so everyone handling it understands what it is and where it’s going. Typical information includes:

• AWB number (usually 11 digits: a 3-digit airline prefix and an 8-digit serial)
• Shipper and consignee names and addresses
• Issuing carrier/agent
• Airport of departure and airport of destination
• Number of pieces, gross weight and dimensions
• Nature and description of goods and volume/packaging
• Chargeable weight and freight charges (prepaid or collect)
• Special handling instructions and any dangerous goods notations
• Declared value for customs or insurance (if applicable)

AWB number example and format

An AWB number helps you track a shipment in the airline and freight forwarder systems. It’s commonly displayed with a dash after the first three digits, for example: 001-23456789. The first three digits identify the issuing airline (an IATA prefix) and the last eight digits are the serial number for that shipment.

Master AWB vs House AWB (MAWB vs HAWB)

In consolidated shipments you will often see two AWBs. A Master AWB (MAWB) is issued by the airline to the consolidator or master forwarder; it covers the entire consolidated shipment. The House AWB (HAWB) is issued by the freight forwarder to the individual shipper and covers that shipper’s cargo within the consolidation. For customs and tracking, both documents are important: the MAWB for the airway carriage and the HAWB for the shipper’s specific goods.

Electronic AWB (e‑AWB)

Modern air cargo increasingly uses the e‑AWB, an electronic equivalent of the paper AWB. e‑AWB adoption reduces paperwork, speeds processing and lowers the risk of lost documents. It is a central part of industry efforts (such as IATA’s e‑Freight program) to digitize air cargo documentation.

How an AWB is used in practice (simple shipment flow)

Imagine a small company in Bangkok selling goods to a buyer in London. The seller hands the goods to a freight forwarder, who books space with an airline. The airline or forwarder issues an AWB listing the shipper, consignee, weight, description and destination. The cargo travels by air; at arrival the airline provides customs and handling agents with the AWB data so the consignee can clear and pick up the goods. The AWB also shows whether freight was prepaid or should be collected from the consignee.

Why the AWB matters to beginners

For a newcomer to logistics, the AWB is one of the first documents you should learn. It tells you who sent and will receive the goods, how much the shipment weighs, what special handling it needs, and how charges are to be settled. If you can read an AWB and find the AWB number, you can track most air shipments and communicate accurately with the airline, forwarder and customs agents.

Common pitfalls to avoid

Simple mistakes on an AWB can slow or stop a shipment. Common issues include incorrect consignee contact details, mismatched weight or dimensions (which affect charges), missing commodity descriptions, and wrong Incoterms or payment instructions (prepaid vs collect). Using e‑AWB reduces risks, but accuracy remains essential.

Final practical tips

Keep a copy of the AWB (or its reference number) until the shipment is delivered; check the AWB number when tracking online; ensure descriptions are clear and HS (Harmonized System) codes used where needed; and ask your forwarder to explain any special handling codes. For most shippers the AWB is the passport of the shipment—learn to read it and it will remove a lot of confusion from your first air cargos.