A Master Air Waybill (MAWB) is a document used in the air cargo industry to identify and document the movement of goods being shipped by air. It is issued by a carrier or its authorized agent and serves as a contract of carriage between the shipper (the party sending the goods) and the carrier. The MAWB is a non-negotiable document, which means it cannot be transferred to another party.

The MAWB includes important information about the shipment, such as the origin and destination airports, the weight and dimensions of the goods, and any special handling instructions. It also includes a unique 11-digit waybill number that can be used to track the shipment and check on its status.

In addition to its use as a transport document, the MAWB serves as a receipt for the goods being shipped and can be used to claim insurance in the event of damage or loss. It is an important document for both the shipper and the carrier, as it establishes the terms and conditions of the carriage of the goods and specifies the responsibilities of each party.

The numbers where the Master Air WayBill consists of 

• The first three digits are the airline prefix. Each airline has been assigned a 3-digit number by IATA, so from the prefix we know which airline has issued the document.
• The next seven digits are the running number/s - one number for each consignment.
• The last digit is what is called the check digit. It is arrived at in the following manner:
  • The seven digits of running numbers are divided by 7, by using a long division calculation. The remainder becomes the check digit. Example: Serial Number 7612752 divided by 7 is 1087536, remainder 6. Therefore, the serial number plus check digit is 76127526 That is why no MAWB number ends with a figure greater than 6.

Colour of Air WayBill

Air Waybills are issued in sets of different colours. The first three copies are classified as originals. 

• The first original, blue in colour, is the shipper’s copy. 
• The second, coloured blue is retained by the issuing carrier. 
• The third, coloured orange, is the consignee’s copy. 
• A yellow copy acts as the delivery receipt or proof of delivery. 
• The other copies are all white. In the picture u see the standard MAWB.