Air Waybill

Definition and function of an Air Waybill

Air waybill (AWB) is a receipt from the airline
acknowledging the receipt of the consignment from
the shipper and a contract of carriage between the
airline and the shipper. An air waybill is equivalent to
an ocean B/L, but it is not a document of title or
negotiable instrument as a bill of lading, as the
consignee takes the delivery of the cargo against of
arrival notice given by the carrier. Hence collection
cannot be used for the payment of the goods to be
transported by air.
 Air Waybill
AWB is a receipt for the goods issued by airlines
agent evidencing the receipt of the goods
mentioned in AWB.
AWB is evidence of the contract of carriage
between the consignor (shipper) and the airline
company.
AWB is the bill reference charged by the airline
company.
AWB can be regarded as insurance policy.
AWB is a must for customs declaration.
AWB is the reference Original 2 for air carrier
business operation.
 Types of Air Waybill
According to the issuer, AWB can be divided into
the two kinds:
Master Air Waybill (MAWB) means its issuer is air
carrier and the shipping contract between the air
carrier and air freight forwarding authorized
agent.
House Air Waybill (HAWB) is issued by the
authorized forwarding agent and constituents the
contract between the forwarder and the
consignor.
Contents of an AWB and its key points
Contents of an AWB
Unlike B/L, the contents of an AWB is tiny in difference in
forms, since most airlines take the IATA (International Air
Transport Association ) AWB known as neutral AWB to
regulate the contents of an AWB, which concludes the
following items:
First departure airport IATA code;
Nameaddress and account No. if necessary of the shipper
and consignee;
Issuing carriers agent name, city, IATA code and account No. if
necessary;
Dispatching dates and cruises including transshipment
information;
Cargo description of; freight and rates;
Others for Customs, insurance and handling.
Key points for attention in an AWB
Issuer of an AWB. Provided otherwise stipulated in L/C,
the bank rejects an AWB issued by transport agencies.
Numbers of an AWB. An AWB has its triplicate originals,
in which original 1 is for issuing carrier, original 2 is
transferred to the consignee accompanying the flight and
original 3 delivers to the shipper for Bill Purchased (B P).
The consignee indicated in an AWB. Only the consignee
typed in an AWB has the right for cargo delivery, which
should in strict conformity with regulations in L/C. The
right can dully be transferred to the bank in case of blank
indication of consignee in L/C.
 Essentials of Airway Bill
The bank will check the airway bill in
accordance with the commercial invoice or
the packing list related in the following
essential aspects:
1) The consignor (shipper), which should be in
strict conformity with the drawer of the
commercial invoice;
 Essentials of Airway Bill
2) The consignee, which should be the same with the buyer in
the commercial invoice in terms of name and address in case
no description of the consignee in the airway bill;
3) Marks, description of goods, quantity, gross weight and
measurement should agree with those in the commercial
invoice and other documents;
4) The air freight and the its payment ( prepaid or to be
collected)
5) The signature of the carrier or the carriers agent and the
signatures compliance.