GlossaryFreight
Air waybill (AWB)
The non-negotiable transport document for air cargo, serving as a receipt and contract between the shipper and the airline.
An air waybill (AWB) is the document that accompanies goods shipped by air. It acts as a receipt for the cargo and as the contract of carriage between the shipper and the carrier. Unlike an ocean bill of lading, it is not negotiable and is not a document of title.
Each AWB has a number that identifies the airline and is used to track the shipment. As with ocean freight, there are master and house air waybills when a forwarder consolidates cargo. Express carriers issue their own waybill for each shipment.
Learn more in our Cross-border shipping articles.
Buy, print and track shipping labels and customs documents across carriers from one place.