An air waybill number is a tracking number for a parcel. It consists of 11 digits and is used to keep track of where a parcel has been and where it’s headed. It’s one type of bill of lading.
The air waybill (AWB) is a document that serves as the receipt of goods by courier. Also, it works as a legal contract between the shipper and courier once both parties sign the documents.
The document is issued in multiple copies, so all parties can track the shipment.
Besides the 11-digit number, an air waybill contains:
Moreover, it includes the courier’s terms and conditions and all applicable charges.
There are two types of air waybills. The airline-specific air waybill includes the courier’s name, office address, logo, and an 11-digit number. The neutral air waybill has the same format but is not used as much.
Air waybills can come in paper or electronic form (called an e-AWB).