Air Waybill (AWB)

An air waybill is the principal document in air freight. It serves three functions: a receipt from the carrier confirming acceptance of the goods, evidence of the contract of carriage between shipper and carrier, and a document for customs clearance at both origin and destination. Unlike a bill of lading in sea freight, an air waybill is non-negotiable — it cannot be used as a document of title to transfer ownership of the goods.

A master air waybill (MAWB) is issued by the airline for the physical movement of goods. A house air waybill (HAWB) is issued by a freight forwarder to the shipper, referencing the MAWB. A single MAWB may cover multiple HAWBs — for example, when a forwarder consolidates shipments from several shippers onto one flight. The MAWB number is the primary tracking reference in the airline's cargo system.

An AWB contains: shipper and consignee details, description and quantity of goods, dimensions and weight, declared value, handling instructions, and charges. In Qatar, the air waybill number is required for customs declaration when clearing air freight through the General Authority of Customs. Electronic air waybills (e-AWB) are increasingly replacing paper versions, improving processing speed and reducing errors.