The Difference Between Electronic Air Waybill MAWB and HAWB

Air waybill (AWB) is the core document for cargo transportation. Among them, MAWB (Master Air Waybill) and HAWB (House Air Waybill) are two types of core documents. Due to different issuing entities, usage scenarios and legal effects, they often cause confusion among logistics practitioners, e-commerce sellers and buyers.

As a leading international logistics fulfillment service provider, Chinadivision has deeply analyzed the differences between them, explained the differences between the two and provided tailored feasible solutions for B2B companies and e-commerce sellers.

What are Master Air Waybill (MAWB) and House Air Waybill (HAWB)?

Master Air Waybill (MAWB)

The Master Air Waybill is issued by an airline (carrier) or its authorized agent. It is the main contract between the carrier and the freight forwarder and is legally binding. It covers the entire freight process from origin to destination. The Master Waybill number is 11 digits, of which the first three digits are used to identify the airline.

Main features

Issuer: Airline or its authorized agent.

Contracting parties: Airline and shipper (usually freight forwarder).

Purpose: Used to manage the entire consolidated freight transport.

Transferability: Not transferable.

Visibility: Direct involvement in the transportation process.

House Waybill (HAWB)

Issued by a freight forwarder (such as Chinadivision), the House Waybill is a secondary contract between the freight forwarder and the shipper, and the legal effect is limited to the freight forwarder and the customer. It details the specific goods in the consolidated shipment.

Main features

Issuer: Freight forwarder.

Contracting parties: Freight forwarder and individual shipper.

Purpose: Covers individual shipments in a consolidated shipment.

Transferability: Not transferable.

Visibility: Indirect involvement through a freight forwarder.

Difference between Master Air Waybill (MAWB) and House Air Waybill (HAWB)

The Master Air Waybill (MAWB) contains the official tracking number of the airline. It is used for cargo consolidation (merging multiple house air waybills into one Master Air Waybill (MAWB)). It is legally binding for airlines to transport goods. MAWB is applicable to the whole batch of consolidated consignments, recording the overall information of the goods (such as total weight, total volume, flight information), and is the core basis for airline billing, customs clearance and transportation. MAWB shows the total weight and total volume of the goods, which is the core basis for airline operations.

House Air Waybill (HAWB) provides a unique reference number for each consignee. It is essential for customs clearance and final delivery. It provides flexibility for B2B customers who manage multiple batches of shipments. HAWB is applicable to the scenario of centralized consignment by freight forwarders, recording the detailed information of a single shipment (such as product name, quantity, consignor and consignee details), and is the voucher for customers to pick up the goods at the destination port.

FAQs about Electronic Air Waybill (MAWB) and House Air Waybill (HAWB)

What is the role of HAWB in customs clearance?

HAWB is the voucher for customers to collect goods at the port of destination, but other documents (such as commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, etc.) are required for customs clearance. The shipper should ensure that the information of HAWB is consistent with that of customs clearance documents to avoid customs clearance delays due to inconsistent information.

How to deal with lost or damaged bills of lading?

Notify the carrier or agent in time to explain the loss or damage of the bill of lading. According to the carrier's requirements, apply for reissue of the bill of lading or go through the telex release procedures. The shipper should keep the bill of lading properly to avoid loss or damage.

What is the difference between air freight MAWB and sea freight MBL?

Different issuing entities: MAWB is issued by airlines and covers faster and smaller goods. MBL is issued by shipping companies and is applicable to bulk sea freight.

Different applicable modes of transportation: MAWB is applicable to air transportation, and MBL is applicable to sea transportation.

Different information content: MAWB records air cargo information, and MBL records sea cargo information.

Shippers should choose the appropriate type of bill of lading according to the mode of transportation to avoid confusion.

Do I need to provide the consignee with a Master Waybill (MAWB)?

The Master Waybill (MAWB) is mainly used for communication between airlines and freight forwarders. Consignees usually only need a House Waybill (HAWB) for customs clearance and delivery.

Chinadivision International Logistics Service Provider Professional Support

As a professional international logistics fulfillment service provider, Chinadivision provides the following support:

Bill of Lading Management: Assist customers to issue, deliver and manage MAWB and HAWB to ensure the accuracy of documents.

Cargo Tracking: Through the self-developed platform, track the progress of cargo transportation in real time and provide status updates.

Customs Clearance Support: Assist customers to prepare customs clearance documents to ensure smooth customs clearance of goods.

Emergency Handling: Provide solutions for emergencies such as loss and damage of bills of lading to ensure the safety of cargo transportation.

Understanding the role of the Master Waybill (MAWB) and House Waybill (HAWB) is essential for efficient air freight management. As a leading international logistics provider, Chinadivision provides comprehensive solutions to help you manage these documents efficiently. We ensure compliance with international standards and provide real-time tracking and support to optimize your supply chain.

For more insights or to simplify your logistics process with our professional solutions, please contact Chinadivision today. Our professional team is ready to assist you in navigating the complex international shipping process.