# Air Waybill (AWB)

*Last updated: 2026-06-16*

> When a carrier or its authorised agent accepts an air freight shipment, it issues an Air Waybill (AWB)—a non-negotiable transport document serving simultaneously as contract of carriage, receipt, and customs accompanying document.

When a carrier or its authorised agent accepts an air freight shipment, it issues an Air Waybill (AWB)—a non-negotiable transport document serving simultaneously as contract of carriage, receipt, and customs accompanying document. It records shipper and consignee details, cargo description, gross weight, dimensions, tariff codes, and, where applicable, dangerous goods classifications under IATA-DGR. Unlike a bill of lading, the AWB conveys no title to the goods; delivery is made solely to the named consignee. Neither the airline nor customs authorities will release a shipment without a fully and correctly completed AWB. In modern air freight, the document is predominantly issued in electronic form as an e-AWB.

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

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Air Waybill (AWB) |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 106 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-16 |
| Source | https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/e/e-awb/ |

## Related Pages

* [Air Freight Charter & Full Freighter](https://www.freight-academy.com/information/luftfracht/charter)
* [Air Freight Rates & Chargeable Weight](https://www.freight-academy.com/information/luftfracht/tarife-taxgewicht)
* [Air Freight Transit Times & Routes](https://www.freight-academy.com/information/luftfracht/transitzeiten)
* [AWB – Air Waybill](https://www.freight-academy.com/information/luftfracht/awb)
* [CMR – International Consignment Note](https://www.freight-academy.com/information/lkw/cmr)

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