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Trade Documentation

Air Waybill

Also known as: AWB

An air waybill is the transport document for goods carried by air, functioning as a receipt for the cargo and evidence of the contract of carriage between the shipper and the airline. Unlike a negotiable ocean bill of lading, the air waybill is not a document of title and cannot be endorsed to transfer ownership of the goods in transit; it names a specific consignee to whom the carrier will release the shipment. Its non-negotiable nature reflects the speed of air transport, where cargo often arrives before documents could otherwise clear, and it standardizes handling across the global air-cargo network.

The JFS takeLicensed customs broker · Filer 82G

Not a document of title, which surprises people who learned trade on ocean bills. Goods are released to the named consignee, so naming the wrong party is not cured by holding the paper. Check the consignee line before the flight, not after.

Where it matters for compliance

  • The air waybill number is the manifest reference for an air entry.

Related terms

Bill of LadingA bill of lading is the foundational document of ocean freight, issued by a carrier to a shipper, that serves three distinct functions at once: a receipt confirming the carrier has taken the described goods into its custody, evidence of the contract of carriage setting out the terms of transport, and — when issued in negotiable form — a document of title whose holder controls delivery of the cargo.Freight ForwarderA freight forwarder is a logistics intermediary that arranges the transport of goods on behalf of shippers, booking space with ocean, air, road, and rail carriers, consolidating cargo, preparing shipping and export documentation, and coordinating the many hand-offs of an international shipment.

Reviewed by a licensed customs broker. Definitions are general information, not legal or customs advice for a particular shipment. Duty rates, tariff programs and agency requirements change frequently.