In air cargo , filling in an air waybill is not that much complicated process, it can be easy if you understand when to fill in and what kind of information must be typed in each single box of AWB. If this I your first time reading my articles, I suggest that you read my previous articles which give you a basic air cargo skill. My previous articles include IATA traffic conference areas, calculating chargeable weight, and air waybill basic information. In the future, I will write about international air fright rates calculating and my articles will be in separate lessons.
You my heard that an air waybill is
considered a non-negotiable document, that's true, this means not open for
debate or modification. It can refer to the price of a good or security that is
firmly established and cannot be adjusted, or a part of a contract or deal that
is considered a requirement by one or both involved parties. Additionally, the
term can relate to a good or security whose ownership is not easily
transferable from one party to another.
I will explain to you the completion
process of paper air waybill. To facilitate this, I will divide the airway bill
format to three parts [ IATA Cargo Service Conference Resolutions 600a].
Do you remember the air waybill meaning?
The air waybill is a document
which shall be either an air waybill referred to as an “airline air waybill”,
with preprinted issuing carrier identification, or an air waybill
referred to as a “neutral air waybill” without preprinted identification
of the issuing carrier in any form and used by other than an air carrier.
It is the most important document issued by a carrier either directly or through its authorized agent. It is a contract- a legal document between a shipper and carrier detailing the type, quantity, and destination of goods being shipped.
However, for it to be a valid
contract, the AWB has to be signed by the shipper or his agent and by the
carrier or its authorized agent. Although the same individual or organization
may act on behalf of both the carrier and the shipper, the air waybill must be
signed twice one each in the respective carrier and shipper boxes. Both
signatures may be of the same person. This also implies that the air waybill
should be issued immediately upon receipt of the goods and letter in
instructions from the shipper.
Step by Step filling of a Paper Air Waybill
Air waybill (AWB) can be completed
either manually by typewriter or by computer. Well filled air waybill (AWB) may
prevent delays and inconvenience.
Now I will give you a full details
example:
Shipment
Details
Carrier Name: Delta
Airlines
Shipper Details : XYZ Trading ltd
Tel +962 6-xxxxxxxxx
Al-Shmaisani
Amman - Jordon
Consignee Details: ABC Trading ltd
Tel +1 617 xxxxxxxx \
Beacon Street.
Boston , Massachusetts,
United States
Air Cargo Agent Name : Aviation Professional Logistics , Amman
Sector (Routing) : Amman (AMM) (Jordon) to
Boston (BOS)- United State
Commodity : Stationary
No of pieces : 1
box
Gross weight : 24.7 kgs
Dimensions : 40 x
40 x 40 cm x 1
Payment : All charges prepaid
Applicable rate :
GCR N JOD 5.38 Per kg
Chargeable weight :
25 kgs
Note : from Amman to Boston air cargo rate per kilo is normal rate = 5.38 JOD,
more than 45 quantity rate.
Weight charge :
25 kgs × JOD 5.38 = JOD 134.5
Minimum charge :
JOD 40.300
Let us fill the air waybill together
Part 1 : Shipper And Consignee Details
Nice, have a look at air waybill format,
part 1.
I will fill in the basic
information, I will write another article containing more information about
multi usage practices of air waybill.
Box number |
Title |
What to fill in |
1 |
Airline Code Number |
Insert ‘006’ |
2 |
Airport of
Departure |
Enter the three-letter
code of the Airport of departure |
3 |
Air Waybill Number |
Enter the eight-digit –Delta Air
Waybill number (12345678 - including the Mod-7 check digit) Note : It is used for delta freight tracking
006-12345678 |
Then
we move to fill in the shipper details and the consignee details, including Delta
Airlines' agent details
Box number |
Title |
What to fill in |
4 |
Shipper information |
The shipper’s name, address, city,
postal code, country and telephone number |
5 |
Consignee
information |
The
consignee’s name, address, city, postal code, country and telephone number |
6 |
Issuing Carrier’s Agent |
The Carrier’s Agent name and address |
7 |
Agents IATA
Code |
Enter the IATA/Cass
code (as applicable) |
8 |
Account Number |
Enter the Delta Airlines' Account
number (as applicable) |
43 |
Accounting information
|
Only accounting
information required by the participation carriers such as payment by cheque,
bill of loading etc. |
The example: complete air waybill format – Part 1

We finished the first part, let us
move to second one to fill in flight route and carrier's information
Part 2: flight Route and Carriers Details
Good job, have a look at air waybill
format, part 2.
The shipment will be shipped through
the direct flying route from Amman to Boston by delta airlines. The payment
method is cash in Jordanian currency ( JOD) and there is no declared value for
carriage or declared value for customs and no Amount of Insurance.

Box number |
Title |
What to fill in |
9 |
Airport of Departure |
Enter the name of the departure
airport (and requested routing if applicable) |
10 |
To (by first
carrier) |
The Destination
Airport code, or that of the first transfer airport |
11 |
By first carrier |
Enter the name of the first carrier
(full name or two-digit code) |
12 |
To (by second
carrier) |
The
Destination Airport code, or that of the second transfer point |
13 |
By (second carrier) |
Enter the two-digit carrier code for
the second carrier |
14 |
Currency code
|
Enter the ISO
three-letter currency code applicable to the AWB |
15 |
Charges Codes |
Enter ‘PX’ for prepaid on account, or
‘PP’ for prepaid cash |
16 |
Weight/Valuation
Charges |
Insert ‘X’ in
the PPD field |
17 |
Other Charges |
Insert ‘X’ in the PPD field (as
appropriate) |
18 |
Declared
Value for Carriage |
Enter ‘NVD’ |
19 |
Declared Value for Customs |
The declared value for customs. If no
value declared, enter ‘NCV’ or leave blank |
20 |
Airport of
Destination |
Enter the
name of the destination airport |
21 |
Amount of Insurance |
Enter ‘XXX’ |
The example: complete air waybill format – Part 2
Part 3 : shipment information and calculation of
international air freight rates
Perfect, have a look at air waybill
format, part 3.
Do you still remember the shipment information?
The commodity is stationary, 1 box, 24.7 kgs gross weight,
Dimensions 40 x 40 x 40 cm x 1, GCR Normal Rate JOD 5.38 per Kilo is the applicable
air freight rate and chargeable weight after rounding is 25 kgs.
Before we start filling in the part
3, do you think we need to mention the dimensions in the air waybill?
Of course, no, because the gross
weight is higher for this reason, we take it as chargeable weight. If the
volumetric weight is higher, we will take it and mention it on the Nature and
Quantity of Goods box.
Now, we can begin.
Box number |
Title |
What to fill in |
22 |
Handling Information |
Only clear and concise information as
required by the carriers shall be inserted (Please notify Mr.xxxxxx while arrival mobile xxxxxxxx |
23 |
Number of
Pieces |
Enter the
number of pieces |
24 |
Gross Weight |
Insert the Gross weight of the pieces
for the applicable rate-line. |
25 |
Weight
indicator |
Enter ‘K’ |
26 |
Rate Class |
Enter one of the following codes (as
appropriate): ‘M’ – Minimum charge ‘N’ – Normal Rate ‘Q’ – Quantity Rate ‘C’ – Specific Commodity Rate ‘R’ – Class Rate Reduction ‘S’ – Class Rate Surcharge ‘U’ – ULD, basic charge or Rate ‘E’ – ULD, additional (Pivot) Rate ‘X’ – ULD, additional information |
27 |
Commodity
Item Number |
Complete this
box as follows: §
When an SCR
code applies, enter the 4-digit code (applicable to ‘C’ and ‘U’ rate class
only) §
When a Class
Rate Surcharge or Reduction applies, enter the percentage adjustment preceded
by the Rate Class to which it applies (e.g. A 50% reduction on the Normal
shall be expressed by N50) §
When a ULD(s)
Rate applies, enter the ULD Rate Class type |
28 |
Chargeable Weight |
Insert the chargeable weight applicable
to the rate-line |
29 |
Rate/Charge |
Enter the
applicable Rate or Charge |
30 |
Total |
Enter the total charge applicable to
each rate-line |
31 |
Nature and
Quantity of Goods |
Complete this
box as follows: §
Enter the
description of the goods as applicable for each rate-line §
Enter the
dimensions of the goods (not applicable for cargo in intact ULD(s)). If the
dimensions are not known, insert ‘No Dimensions Available’ §
When a ULD(s) is used, the ULD identifier(s)
(e.g. PMC12345NZ) shall be inserted on the ‘X’ rate-line §
For ULD-loaded consignments; when the number
of pieces indicated in box 23 is different from the actual number of pieces,
the actual number of pieces shall be shown as “…SLAC” (shipper’s load and
count). This should be shown on a blank line immediately above its
corresponding ULD identifier (‘X’) line |
32 |
Total Number of pieces |
If there is more than one rate-line,
enter the sum of the number of pieces |
33 |
Total Gross
Weight |
If there is
more than one rate-line, enter the sum of the Gross weight |
34 |
Total (Charges) |
If there is more than one rate-line,
enter the sum Total (Weight) Charges |
Do not worry, there is some details
I mentioned above, but it is not related to our example in this article. It
will be covered by another article in the future.
The example: complete air waybill format – Part 3

Step 4 : fill in the other charges detail & Signatures
Excellent, have a look at air
waybill format, part 4.

In addition to the air freight rate,
there is other charges but will not be covered in this article.
Let us continue.
Box number |
Title |
What to fill in |
35 |
Prepaid Weight Charge |
Transpose the Total Weight Charges into
this box |
36 |
Other Charges
due Agent |
Enter any
‘other charges’ due Agent. These should be specified in the box to the right
using correct codes |
37 |
Other Charges due Carrier |
Enter any ‘other charges’ due Carrier.
These should be specified in the box to the right using correct codes |
38 |
Total Prepaid
Amount |
Enter the sum
total of the Air Waybill charges |
39 |
Shipper’s certification |
Signature of the shipper or his agent
(printed, signed or stamped) |
40 |
Execution
Date |
Enter the
execution date for the AWB in sequence day, month (alphabetical) & year.
(Month can be abbreviated) |
41 |
At (place) |
Insert the place of AWB execution
(Airport or City) |
42 |
Issuing
Carrier or Agent |
Enter the
signature of the issuing Agent |
The example: complete air waybill format – Part 4

We finish filling the air waybill
Conclusion
In international carriage, it must
be one individual air waybill for each consignment unless a shipment record is
to be created (master air waybill with house air waybills manifest). Also, no carrier shall execute the air
waybill or carry any part of a consignment until the complete consignment has
been received. it is about aviation security and shipping good practices.
Air waybill is the most important shipping
document. It is a contract- a legal document between a shipper and carrier
detailing the type, quantity, and destination of goods being shipped. However,
for it to be a valid contract, the AWB has to be filled correctly, then signed
by the shipper or his agent and by the carrier or its authorized agent.
Thank you for reading