Home / Logistics Knowledge / Air Waybill (AWB): Fields, Numbering and Collection
An air waybill is the transport document for an air shipment. The airline or its agent issues it once cargo is accepted. Unlike an ocean bill of lading it is not a document of title: it cannot be transferred, and the airline hands cargo to the named consignee on proof of identity rather than against the document.
An air waybill is at once the contract of carriage between shipper and carrier, a receipt for the cargo, and the basis for freight settlement. It is issued in several copies, typically one for the carrier, one for the consignee, and one for the shipper.
What it is not is a document of title. Under the Warsaw and Montreal conventions an air waybill is not negotiable and cannot be endorsed to transfer rights to the goods. That single difference shapes how air shipments are paid for.
Air freight uses two levels of document, mirroring the house and master bills on LCL ocean freight. The airline issues a master air waybill to the freight forwarder, and the forwarder issues a house air waybill to the actual shipper. What you normally hold is the house AWB.
| Master AWB | House AWB | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | The airline | The forwarder or consolidator |
| Number | Eleven digits tied to the flight routing | Forwarder's own number, often linked to the MAWB |
| Shows | Airline and forwarder | The forwarder |
| Function | Contract between airline and forwarder | Contract between forwarder and shipper |
| Used for clearance | Airline and some clearance purposes | The shipper's declaration, settlement, and claims |
An air waybill number is always eleven digits, using a modulo-7 check digit. The first three digits identify the airline; the remaining eight are a serial number, the last of which is the check digit.
| Prefix | Airline |
|---|---|
| 112 | China Eastern Airlines (MU) |
| 784 | China Southern Airlines (CZ) |
| 160 | Cathay Pacific (CX) |
| 235 | Turkish Airlines (TK) |
| 988 | Asiana Airlines (OZ) |
To trace a shipment, search the full eleven digits on the airline's site or in the forwarder's system. If nothing comes up, check that the prefix matches the routing first, then check whether you are holding a master or a house number. The two rarely return the same result on the same system.
| Field | What to put |
|---|---|
| Shipper's name and address | Exporter's full details with a reachable contact number |
| Consignee's name and address | Importer's full details. The document is not transferable, so accuracy is critical |
| Airport of departure and destination | IATA three-letter codes such as SZX or FRA |
| Flight and date | Completed by the carrier; fixes when liability starts |
| Number of pieces | Must match the packing list; note pallets and cartons separately |
| Gross weight | Weighed, in kilograms |
| Chargeable weight | The greater of gross weight and volumetric weight |
| Nature and quantity of goods | English description; dangerous goods need the proper shipping name and class |
| Rate and charges | Prepaid or collect. Air freight is usually prepaid |
| Air waybill | Ocean B/L | |
|---|---|---|
| Document of title | No, not transferable | Yes, an original can be endorsed |
| Collection basis | Identity and arrival notice | One original exchanged for a delivery order |
| Control over release | None; no telex release mechanism | Hold the original or instruct a telex release |
| Issued by | Airline or consolidator | Carrier or its authorised agent |
| Number | Eleven digits including the airline prefix | Carrier's own bill number |
| Suits | Payment already received, or a buyer with proven credit | Letters of credit and any deal needing transferable rights |
The transport document for an air shipment, issued by the airline or its agent once cargo is accepted. It serves as the contract of carriage, a receipt, and the freight settlement basis. It is not transferable and not a document of title.
Whether the document carries title. An original ocean bill can be endorsed and exchanged for cargo, and it supports telex release. An air waybill cannot be transferred, the airline releases to the named consignee, and there is no document-based way for a shipper to hold cargo back.
The airline issues the master AWB to the freight forwarder; the forwarder issues the house AWB to the actual shipper. You normally hold the house document for clearance and settlement, while the master governs the airline-forwarder relationship.
The first three digits are the airline's numeric prefix. For example 112 is China Eastern, 784 is China Southern, 160 is Cathay Pacific, and 235 is Turkish Airlines. The remaining eight digits are the serial number, with a modulo-7 check digit at the end.
On chargeable weight, which is the greater of gross weight and volumetric weight. Volumetric weight is length times width times height in centimetres divided by 6000, and some lanes use 5000 instead.
Neither. An air waybill cannot be endorsed, and the consignee is fixed at issue. Telex release belongs to ocean trade, and since air cargo is not released against the document there is nothing for it to replace.
Ask the terminal for an irregularity report at collection and keep all documents. Damage claims run to 14 days from receipt and delay claims to 21 days under the Montreal convention, with a two-year limitation period for loss. Insure high-value cargo separately.
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