Spotlight on Air Waybill

Bills of lading are important documents that serve as contracts, receipts and documents of title for exporters. Exporters should use them with every export so they have evidence of a contract of carriage. But if they aren’t used correctly, their shipments could be delayed. Today, we’re discussing the air waybill.

What Is the Air Waybill?

The air waybill (AWB) is a document that controls the routing of an exporter’s cargo while it is in the hands of the air carrier or a consolidator. It is the equivalent of an ocean bill of lading used in air transport.

The air waybill is a contract for carriage; however, the air waybill cannot be negotiated—it may not be consigned "to order of shipper."

The air waybill identifies the following:

• The shipper
• The consignee
• The carrier
• The notify party
• The freight forwarder
• Routing
• The description, weight, and dimensions of the cargo
• Freight charges
• The Destination Control Statement

Correctly completing your air waybill is a simple yet important task—one you can’t afford to make mistakes on. Without your AWB—or if your AWB has any errors—you could end up with delays in shipments and delays in getting paid.

You can find more resources about the air waybill form here:

• What Is a Bill of Lading: 3 Things You Need to Know

And check out our Spotlight on the Ocean Bill of Lading.