The AWB is the document the airline or the forwarder issues for each shipment. It evidences the contract of carriage and the receipt of the goods, and carries the chargeable weight, dimensions and handling instructions.
Unlike the sea bill of lading, the AWB is not negotiable and does not transfer ownership: the goods are released to the consignee named on it. A forwarder normally issues a house AWB (HAWB) to the customer and moves it under the airline master AWB (MAWB).