Air WaybillAWB

Unlike an ocean bill of lading, an air waybill is non-negotiable: the goods are delivered to the consignee named on the AWB, not to whoever holds the document. This is because air cargo often arrives before documents could be sent through banks.

As a result, in an LC or documentary collection involving air shipment, banks protect their position by having the goods consigned to the issuing bank (or 'to the order of' the bank). The importer then needs a release or delivery order from the bank, which is issued once the importer pays or arranges finance. If the AWB is consigned directly to the importer, the bank loses control over the goods.

Each AWB carries a unique 11-digit number, beginning with the airline's three-digit prefix, which is used to track the shipment. A master air waybill is issued by the airline to a freight forwarder, and a house air waybill is issued by the forwarder to individual shippers in a consolidated shipment.

Because Nepal imports many high-value and urgent goods by air, AWBs are common in Nepali banks' trade finance documentation.

समुद्री बिल अफ लेडिङभन्दा फरक, एयरवे बिल हस्तान्तरणयोग्य हुँदैन: सामान कागजात बोक्नेलाई होइन, AWB मा नाम उल्लेख भएको प्राप्तकर्तालाई दिइन्छ, किनकि हवाई कार्गो प्रायः बैंकमार्फत कागजात पुग्नुअघि नै आइपुग्छ।

त्यसैले प्रतीतपत्र वा कागजाती सङ्कलनमा बैंकले सामान जारीकर्ता बैंकको नाममा पठाउन लगाउँछ; आयातकर्ताले भुक्तानी वा वित्त व्यवस्था गरेपछि बैंकले रिलिज अर्डर दिन्छ। AWB सिधै आयातकर्ताको नाममा भए बैंकले सामानमाथिको नियन्त्रण गुमाउँछ।

प्रत्येक AWB को ११ अङ्कको नम्बर हुन्छ, जसको पहिलो तीन अङ्क एयरलाइन्सको कोड हो। एयरलाइन्सले फ्रेट फरवार्डरलाई मास्टर AWB र फरवार्डरले पठाउनेलाई हाउस AWB दिन्छ।