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What is House Airway Bill (HAWB): Meaning and features

House Airway Bill is a document issued by an air carrier that mentions details of goods being shipped by air. In this blog, Learn more about its need and format.
What is House Airway Bill (HAWB)
Documentation is an important step in the process of international shipping, which ensures smooth export of goods and seamless payments. With every shipment that is exported from India, a few export documents are required. In air freight, Airway Bill is a key document that is required for hassle-free shipping and exports. House Airway Bill is a type of AWB that is commonly used in this mode of transportation.

What is House Airway Bill?

House Airway Bill is a legal document that mentions details about the goods that are being shipped by an international air courier with information on shipment, what does it contain, specification of the goods, etc. It can be tracked both by importer as well as the exporter. It is the responsibility of the freight forwarder to issue a House Airway Bill, but only after the shipper issues a shipment receipt. House Airwaybill acts a confirmation document that the forwarder will deliver the entire shipper’s goods to the address that is mentioned.

What is the need for a HAWB?

HAWB is a receipt issued by a freight forwarder that serves as evidence of contract of shipment of goods. It should be noted that the HAWB number is always different for different freight forwarders. The consignee or the recipient of the consignment can use the HAWB number to trace the shipment with the freight forwarder.

What are the features of a House Airway Bill?

Some of the features of a HAWB are:
• The format used to issue an Airway Bill is also used to issue a House Airway Bill.
• A House Airway Bill acts as a legal agreement between the shipper and airline.
• It is signed by the forwarder and states the terms and conditions of carriage for the forwarder company’s perspective.
• A House Airway Bill acts as evidence of the shipment

What’s the difference between House Airway Bill & Master Airway Bill?

House Airway Bill

• House Airway Bill is issued by the forwarder on a natural form of an air way bill.

• The HAWB is signed by the freight forwarder or the forwarding company.

• The House Airway Bill may or may not follow the IATA rules.

Master Airway Bill

• Master Airway Bill is issued by the actual carrier, on a pre-printed form of an actual carrier's air way bill.

• MAWB can be signed by both the carrier or the agent of the carrier.

• In case of MAWB, it always falls under IATA rules.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who issues a House Airway Bill?
HAWB is a legal document, which is mandatory when shipping via air. The HAWB is signed and issued by a freight forwarder.
Is House Airway Bill & HBOL same?
While a freight forwarder issues a House Airway Bill as shipment surety, HBOL is a formal acknowledgment that the carrier has received the consignment for shipment post-inspection.
Why is a HAWB be issued?
HAWB contains information of all the parties involved in an air shipment process during exports. The details include name and address of the importer as well as the exporter, shipment contents, terms and conditions, etc.
Published on August 30, 2022.

Sources:
1. https://nacin.gov.in/resources/file/e-books/Bill%20of%20lading.pdf
2. https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/e/eawb/
3. https://howtoexportimport.com/Difference-between-AWB-and-HAWB-Airway-bill-and-Ho-469.aspx

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