AWB (Air Waybill)
The transport document for air cargo, equivalent to an ocean Bill of Lading but non-negotiable — it cannot be used as a document of title.
In detail
An Air Waybill is issued by an airline or freight forwarder for air shipments. Unlike an ocean B/L, an AWB is non-negotiable: it identifies the consignee by name and cannot be transferred to a third party by endorsement. This means: the air carrier releases cargo to the named consignee without requiring surrender of the original document, enabling faster cargo release than ocean freight. Two types: Master AWB (MAWB) — issued by the airline to the freight forwarder; House AWB (HAWB) — issued by the forwarder to the shipper for consolidated (groupage) air shipments. For Russian customs clearance, the AWB is submitted along with the commercial invoice, packing list, and any required permits. Air freight weight calculation: the chargeable weight is the greater of actual weight (kg) or volumetric weight (length × width × height in cm ÷ 6,000). Transit time China to Moscow: 3–7 days. Cost: typically 4–8x higher per kg than ocean freight, justified for high-value or urgent shipments.
Examples
- →HAWB 555-87654321 PVG→SVO: 200 kg electronics, 5-day transit, chargeable weight = max(200kg, 150 volumetric kg) = 200 kg
Related terms
Bill of Lading (B/L)
The primary ocean freight document serving as a receipt of shipment, contract of carriage, and document of title.
CBM (Cubic Meter)
The standard unit of volume measurement in international freight; 1 CBM = 1 m³; used to price LCL shipments.
Freight Forwarder
A company that arranges international cargo transportation on behalf of shippers — booking carriers, managing documentation, and coordinating the logistics chain.