An air waybill (AWB) is a required legal document that accompanies international air cargo. It functions as a:
- Receipt of goods
- Carriage contract between the carrier and shipper
- Tracking document for the shipment
What Does an Air Waybill Include?
Sometimes referred to as air consignment notes, AWBs:
- Are a type of bill of lading
- Contain detailed information about the cargo, route, shipper, and consignee
- Become legally enforceable once signed by both the shipper and carrier
Additional information commonly included in AWBs:
- Three-letter IATA airport codes for the origin and destination
- Special handling instructions, if any
- The carrier’s terms and conditions
Unlike a typical ocean bill of lading, AWBs are nonnegotiable, meaning they do not cover the value of the cargo. As nonnegotiable contracts, AWBs also do not specify the flight the shipment will be transported on or guarantee its arrival date.
Types of Air Waybills
There are two main types of air waybills, both designed and distributed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Though they share the same layout, they differ in formatting:
- Airline-specific AWBs include the carrier’s name, AWB number, office address, and logo
- Neutral AWBs do not contain any prepopulated carrier information
Since 2019, the default form of AWBs has shifted from paper to electronic, known as e-AWBs. These can be provided directly by the carrier or obtained from IATA.