Definition
The transport document for air freight, issued by the airline or its agent, serving as the contract of carriage and receipt for the goods. Unlike an ocean bill of lading it is not a document of title — the named consignee simply collects the cargo, which suits air freight's speed. A master AWB covers the airline-to-forwarder leg while house AWBs cover each customer's shipment within a consolidation, mirroring the MBL and HBL split in sea freight.
Frequently asked questions
What is Air Waybill (AWB)?
The transport document for air freight, issued by the airline or its agent, serving as the contract of carriage and receipt for the goods. Unlike an ocean bill of lading it is not a document of title — the named consignee simply collects the cargo, which suits air freight's speed. A master AWB covers the airline-to-forwarder leg while house AWBs cover each customer's shipment within a consolidation, mirroring the MBL and HBL split in sea freight.
Which glossary terms are related to Air Waybill (AWB)?
Air Waybill (AWB) is a documentation term in the South African import/export industry. Related terms in the same area include ATA Carnet, Bill of Lading (BoL), Cargo Manifest, Certificate of Conformity, CFR (Cost and Freight) — each has its own plain-English definition in the TradeCaravan glossary.