# Air Waybill

*Last updated: 2026-06-22*

> Unlike a bill of lading in sea freight, the Air Waybill (AWB) is a non-negotiable transport document: it conveys no title to the goods and cannot be endorsed or transferred as a security.

Unlike a bill of lading in sea freight, the Air Waybill (AWB) is a non-negotiable transport document: it conveys no title to the goods and cannot be endorsed or transferred as a security. It is issued either by the operating airline as a Master AWB (MAWB) or by an air freight forwarder as a House AWB (HAWB). The AWB serves three simultaneous functions: it evidences the contract of carriage, acknowledges the carrier's receipt of the consignment, and provides the basis for freight invoicing. The document records shipper, consignee, routing, number of pieces, weight, dimensions, and agreed conditions of carriage. In customs procedures, it is a primary supporting document for import declarations; IATA member airlines use standardized forms, and the unique eleven-digit AWB number enables end-to-end shipment tracking.

**Source:** [https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/e/awb/](https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/e/awb/)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Air Waybill |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 127 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-22 |
| Source | https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/e/awb/ |

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