The Air Waybill:

The air waybill is the most important document issued by a carrier either directly or through its authorized agent. It is a non-negotiable transport document that covers the transport of cargo from airport to airport. By accepting shipment an IATA cargo agent is acting on behalf of the carrier whose air waybill is issued.

Air waybills have eleven digit numbers which can be used to make bookings, check the status of booking and a current position of the shipment.

Air waybill is issued in eight sets of different colours. The first three copies classified as originals, the first original,green in colour, is the issuing carrier's copy. The second coloured pink is the consignee's copy. The third coloured blue, is the shipper's copy. A fourth brown copy acts as the Delivery, Receipt or proof  of delivery. The other four copies are white. 

The format of air waybill is designed by IATA and these can be used for both domestic as well as  international transportation.

Usually, airline's air waybills are distributed to IATA cargo agents by IATA airlines. An air waybill shows:

The carrier's name

Its head office address 

Its logo

The pre-printed eleven digit air waybill number.

An air waybill is a contract and has to be signed by shipper or his agent and carrier or by its authorized agent. 

In airfreight, the exporter (consignor) often engages a freight forwarder or consolidator to handle the forwarding of goods. The consignor provides a shipper's Letter of Instructions which authorizes the forwarding agent to sign certain documents(e.g. the AWB) on behalf of the consignor.

International air waybill that contains consolidated cargo are called master air waybills( MAWB). MAWBs have additional papers called house air waybill (HAWB). Each HAWB contains information of each individual shipment (consignee, content etc.) within the consolidation. International AWBs that are not consolidated (only one shipment in one bill) are called simple air waybills. A house airway bill can also be created by a freight forwarder. When the shipment is booked, the airline issue a master air waybill to the forwarder, who in turn issue their own house air waybill to the customer.