Detailed explanation of air waybill: nature, classification and key points
Air waybill (Air Waybill) is a freight document issued by an air carrier or its agent. It is a receipt for the carrier to receive the goods and is also a transportation contract between the shipper and the carrier. The air waybill is non-transferable and does not have the nature of a document of property rights.
1. Classification of air waybills
Classified by carrier name
- Airline Air Waybill: An air waybill printed with the name and logo of the issuing airline, representing the identity of the issuing airline.
- Neutral Air Waybill: An airway bill that does not pre-print the name and logo of the carrier is a neutral airway bill.
Classified according to different functions
- Master Air Waybill (MAWB): An air waybill issued by an air transport company.
- House Air Waybill (HAWB): A waybill issued by an air freight forwarding company to each shipper when handling centralized consignment business.
2. Composition of air waybill
my country’s international air waybill consists of twelve copies, including three original copies, six copies and three additional copies.
3. Responsibility for filling out the air waybill
The carrier’s conditions of carriage prepare the air waybill for the shipper in accordance with the provisions of the Warsaw Convention, the Hague Protocol and the carrier’s conditions of carriage. The shipper shall be responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the contents filled in the freight bill. If the carrier or other persons suffer losses due to inaccurate or incomplete contents filled in the freight bill, the shipper shall be held responsible.
In the operation of air cargo business, a large number of goods carried by each airline are collected and transported through its agents, and some special goods are collected and transported directly by the airline. You must have certain professional knowledge to fill in the air waybill. The shipper authorizes the airline or its agent to fill in the air waybill on its behalf in the form of a consignment letter or a power of attorney.
4. Properties and functions
An airway bill is very different from an ocean bill of lading, but similar to an international railway waybill. It is an important cargo transportation document issued by the carrier or its agent, and is a transportation contract between the two parties. Air waybills are non-negotiable and possession of an air waybill does not entitle you to claim ownership of the goods.
- The air waybill is a contract of carriage between the consignor and the air carrier: The air waybill not only proves the existence of the air transport contract, but also is itself concluded between the consignor and the air transport carrier. contract for the carriage of goods.
- The air waybill is a proof of receipt of the goods issued by the carrier: The air waybill is also a receipt for the goods. After the consignor ships the goods, the carrier or its agent will hand over one of them. To the shipper as proof that the goods have been received.
- The air waybill is the bill based on which the carrier charges freight: The air waybill records the fees borne by the consignee, the fees payable to the carrier and the fees payable to the agent. Personnel expenses, and list the types and amounts of expenses in detail.
- The air waybill is one of the customs declaration documents: When the goods arrive at the destination airport for import customs declaration, the air waybill is usually the basic document for customs inspection and release.
- The air waybill can also be used as an insurance certificate: If the carrier provides insurance or the shipper requires the carrier to provide insurance, the air waybill can also be used as an insurance certificate.
- The air waybill is the basis for the carrier’s internal business: The air waybill travels with the cargo and proves the identity of the cargo. The waybill contains matters related to the sending, transshipment and delivery of the goods, and the carrier will make corresponding arrangements for the transportation of the goods accordingly.
5. Main content
Air waybills are similar to sea waybills and have front and back terms. Different airlines will also have their own unique air waybill formats. The difference is that shipping companies’ ocean bills of lading may vary widely, but the air waybills used by each airline mostly follow the standard format recommended by IATA, and the difference is not big.
Fill in the column description
- Departure Airport: You need to fill in the three-letter code of the departure airport or city uniformly formulated by IATA.
- Shipper’s name and address: Fill in the shipper’s name, address, country and contact information.
- Consignee’s name and address: The consignee’s name, address, country and contact information should be filled in.
- Name and city of carrier agent.
- Originating station airport and required route: The originating station here should be consistent with the one filled in column 1.
- Currency: Fill in the ISO currency code.
- Freight and declared value fee: There are two situations at this time: prepaid (PPD, Prepaid) or collect (COLL collect).
- Other fees: There are also two payment methods: prepaid and pay on delivery.
- Destination Airport: Fill in the full name of the final destination airport.
- Flight and date: Fill in the flight and date the cargo will take.
- Amount of insurance: Fill in only if the airline provides insurance services and the customer also needs it.
- Operational information: Generally fill in the carrier’s relevant precautions for cargo handling.
- Goods freight price and freight details.
- Other charges: Refers to charges other than shipping and declared value surcharges.
- Total amount paid in advance and paid on delivery.
- Shipper’s signature.
- Time (date), place, and signature of the carrier or its agent
- Currency conversion and destination airport fee records.
All the above contents do not have to be filled in in the air waybill, and IATA has no objection to writing other required contents in the waybill.
6. Characteristics of air waybill
- Non-property securities: The air waybill is different from the sea waybill. It is not a certificate of ownership of the goods. It is just a receipt for the goods and a certificate of transportation contract issued by the carrier to the shipper.
- Non-negotiable securities: Due to the high speed of air transport, the goods usually arrive at the destination before the shipper sends the air waybill to the consignee, which largely excludes The need to transfer goods through transfer of shipping documents.
- B/L: The air waybill is issued after the carrier receives the goods, not after they are loaded on the aircraft. The bill of lading has the words “Received for Carriage”. .
- Required documents: The Warsaw Convention and the Hague Protocol both stipulate the content that should be recorded in the air waybill. If it is not recorded in accordance with the regulations, it will not affect the establishment of the contract of carriage, but you will not be able to enjoy the benefits of the convention.
7. Issues to note
- Issuer of the air waybill: The air waybill should be issued by the air carrier or its agent.
- Number of copies of air waybill: Air waybills are generally made in three originals and several copies.
- Consignee of the air waybill: Since only the consignee named on the air waybill has the right to pick up the goods.
The above content is integrated from the reference article.