Air Waybill

Definition

A transport document issued by an airline or freight forwarder that serves as a receipt for goods, evidence of the contract of carriage, and — unlike a Bill of Lading in ocean freight — is non-negotiable. The AWB contains shipper/consignee details, flight information, commodity description, weight, and applicable charges. In time-critical logistics, the AWB number is the primary tracking reference. The IATA-standard AWB format uses an 11-digit number: the first 3 digits identify the issuing airline, the last is a check digit.