Difference Between MAWB and HAWB

While both MAWB and HAWB serve as contracts of carriage in air cargo, they govern different relationships and have distinct tracking requirements.

Key Operational Differences

A **Master Air Waybill (MAWB)** governs the contract between the airline and the freight forwarder. A **House Air Waybill (HAWB)** governs the agreement between the freight forwarder and the cargo owner.

During customs clearance at the destination airport, customs officers require both documents. The HAWB identifies the commercial value and ownership of the goods for import duties, while the MAWB verifies terminal arrival and cargo weight compliance.

How It Impacts Tracking

If your cargo is shipped as part of a consolidation, tracking the 3-digit prefix AWB (e.g. 172 for Cargolux) will only show overall flight updates. To confirm that your specific crates have been unpacked and processed, you must check the HAWB tracking updates with your local broker.