GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 22, 2026
Master Air Waybill
A Master Air Waybill (MAWB) is the transport document issued by an airline or its authorised agent, establishing the carrier's contractual obligation to transport an entire air cargo consignment.
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Source: https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/e-freight/awb/
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Definition & Explanation
A Master Air Waybill (MAWB) is the transport document issued by an airline or its authorised agent, establishing the carrier's contractual obligation to transport an entire air cargo consignment. As a non-negotiable instrument, it functions simultaneously as a receipt, a contract of carriage, and the basis for liability claims against the airline. In consolidated freight, a forwarder groups multiple individual shipments under a single MAWB and issues each shipper a separate House Air Waybill (HAWB). Carrier liability rests with the airline under the MAWB, while the HAWB governs the contractual relationship between forwarder and shipper. Customs authorities use the MAWB as the primary reference document for import clearance.
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