Airway Bill 




WHAT IS AWB (AIRWAY BILL)?


Airway Bill serves as a (1) receipt of goods by an airline (carrier) and (2) as a contract of carriage between the shipper and the carrier. It includes (a) conditions of carriage that define (among other terms and conditions) the carrier's limits of liability and claims procedures, (b) a description of the goods, and (c) applicable charges. The airline industry has adopted a standard format for AWB which is used throughout the world for both domestic and international traffic. Unlike a bill of lading, and AWB is a non-negotiable instrument, does not specify on which flight the shipment will be sent, or when it will reach its destination.


⚡ Importance: An airway bill is a standard form distributed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Understanding an Air Waybill (AWB)

 

An air waybill (AWB) serves as a receipt of goods by an airline (the carrier), as well as a contract of carriage between the shipper and the carrier. It’s a legal agreement that’s enforceable by law. The AWB becomes an enforceable contract when the shipper (or shipper's agent) and carrier (or carrier's agent) both sign the document. 
The airway bill will also contain the shipper's name and address, consignee's name and address, three-letter origin airport code, three letter destination airport code, declared shipment value for customs, number of pieces, gross weight, a description of the goods, and any special instructions (e.g., "perishable").
An AWB also contains the conditions of the contract that describe the carrier's terms and conditions, such as its liability limits and claims procedures, a description of the goods, and applicable charges.

Requirements for an Air Waybill

 

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) designs and distributes air waybills. There are two types of AWBs—and airline-specific one and a neutral one. Each airline AWB must include the carrier’s name, head office address, logo, and air waybill number. Neutral air waybills have the same layout and format as airline AWBs; they just aren’t prepopulated.
An air waybill has 11 numbers and came with eight copies of varying colors. With the Multilateral Electronic Air Waybill Resolution 672, paper airwaybills are no longer required. Dubbed the e-AWB, it’s been in use since 2010 and became the default contract for all air cargo shipments on enabled trade lines as of 2019.
 Note: Some airlines no longer produce paper air waybills, only allowing access to electronic air waybills.
AWB also has types 
1. MAWB (Master Airway Bill)
2. HAWB (House Airway Bill)
Types of AWB & BL will be explained in the next blog...