What Is an Air Waybill (AWB)?

An air waybill (AWB) is a document that accompanies goods shipped by an international air courier to provide detailed information concerning the shipment and allow it to be monitored. The invoice has multiple copies so that every party involved with the shipment can record it. An air waybill (AWB), also known as an air consignment note, is a kind of bill of lading. Howeveran AWB serves a similar function to ocean bills of lading, but an AWB is issued in non-negotiable form, meaning there's less protection with an AWB versus bills of lading.

An air waybill (AWB) serves as a receipt of goods via an airline (the carrier), in addition to a contract of carriage between the shipper and the carrier. It is a legal arrangement that is enforceable by law. The AWB becomes an enforceable contract once the shipper (or shipper's agent) and carrier (or carrier's agent) both sign the record.

The airline bill will also include the shipper's name and address, consignee's name and address, three-letter origin airport code, three letter destination airport code, declared shipment value for habits, number of pieces, gross weight, a description of their merchandise, and any special directions (e.g.,"perishable").

An AWB also includes the states of the contract which describe the carrier's terms and conditions, including its liability limitations and claims procedures, a description of the merchandise, and related charges.

An airway bill is a standard form distributed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

KEY TAKEAWAYS

An airway bill or AWB is a record that conveys goods shipped through an worldwide courier, which allow for tracking.

It serves as a receipt of goods by an airline, in addition to a contract of carriage between the shipper and the carrier. It's a legal agreement that is enforceable by law.

AWBs are non-negotiable instruments and have to contain the shipper's name and address, consignee's name and address, destination airport, and value of contents, among other items.

AWBs are unlike other bills of lading, in that they're non-negotiable instruments, meaning that it doesn't define on which flight the dispatch will be shipped, or when it will reach its destination. Bills of lading are legal records involving the shipper of goods and the carrier, detailing the kind, quantity, and destination of the goods being carried.

Bills of lading also work as a receipt of shipment when the products are delivered at a predetermined destination. This document summarizes the merchandise and can be signed by authorized representatives of the shipper, the carrier, and the receiver. However, unlike a bill of landing, an air waybill (AWB) is non-negotiable. Being non-negotiable, the AWB is a contract only for transport and doesn't cover the product value.

Prerequisites for an Air Waybill

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) designs and distributes air waybills. There are two varieties of AWBs--an airline-specific one and a neutral one. Neutral air waybills have the same layout and format as airline AWBs; they simply are not prepopulated.

An air waybill has 11 amounts and came with eight copies of varying colors. With the Multilateral Electronic Air Waybill Resolution 672, paper air waybills are no more required. Dubbed the e-AWB, it has been in use since 2010 and became the default contract for all air cargo shipments on enabled commerce lines as of 2019