Short answer
The AWB is the transport document issued for air freight: it shows that the cargo has been received and serves as evidence of the contract of carriage. Its most important difference from a marine bill of lading is that it is not a document of title — it cannot be endorsed, the goods cannot be sold while in transit, and it does not need to be presented for delivery. The carrier delivers to the consignee named on the document after verifying identity.
What is an AWB
AWB — Air Waybill, referred to in Turkish as hava konşimentosu (air bill of lading). It is the transport document issued for cargo carried by air.
It has three functions:
- A receipt confirming the carrier has taken delivery of the cargo
- Evidence of the contract of carriage
- A shipping instruction given to the carrier
The third function of a marine bill of lading — “representing the goods” — does not exist for the AWB. The difference starts here, and its commercial consequences follow from it.
The most critical difference: it is not a document of title
A marine bill of lading can be endorsed. While the goods are at sea, they can be sold by transferring the document. On arrival, the cargo can only be collected by presenting the original document. That is why the bank can maintain effective control over the goods by holding onto the document — and why letters of credit are so widely used in sea freight.
None of this applies to the AWB. The document cannot be endorsed, the goods cannot be sold in transit, and presentation is not required for delivery. The carrier delivers to the party named as consignee on the AWB after verifying their identity.
The practical consequence is this: if you named your customer as consignee, the goods can be collected without payment being made. On air shipments requiring payment security, the bank may need to be named in the consignee field; this arrangement must be agreed with the bank in advance.
MAWB and HAWB
Most air cargo is carried on a consolidated basis. That is why there are two levels of document:
| Document | Issued by | Parties |
|---|---|---|
| MAWB (Master) | Airline | Airline and the forwarder handling the consolidation |
| HAWB (House) | Forwarder | The actual shipper and the actual consignee |
Dozens of HAWBs can exist under a single MAWB. As the shipper, the document you typically hold is the HAWB. Customs declaration and delivery are handled through the HAWB.
Weight and charge fields
The AWB carries three weight values, and confusing them produces invoice surprises:
- Actual weight — the scale value
- Volumetric weight — the weight equivalent of the space the package occupies
- Chargeable weight — whichever of the above two is greater
The invoice is calculated on the chargeable weight. For light, bulky cargo, this is almost always the volumetric weight.
The document also marks the prepaid or collect distinction, showing whether the freight is to be paid at origin or at destination. This choice must be consistent with the delivery term used in the sale.
Common mistakes
Filling in the consignee field without thinking about payment security. Because the AWB carries no presentation requirement, this field directly determines who the goods are delivered to.
Declaring dimensions without packaging. Volumetric weight is calculated on the outer dimensions of the palletized, stretch-wrapped unit. Giving the bare product dimensions results in remeasurement on arrival and a supplementary invoice.
Writing a generic goods description. A description such as “spare parts” both increases the likelihood of a customs inspection and creates grounds for a reservation on letter-of-credit transactions.
Confusing the MAWB with the HAWB. On your side, customs and delivery run through the HAWB; the MAWB is between the forwarder and the airline.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Regulations change; confirm the current position before acting.