Air Cargo AWB Status Code Glossary
Decode standard IATA milestone tracking codes on your air waybill (AWB). Learn what codes like RCS, DEP, ARR, RCF, NFD, and DLV mean in global shipping logistics.
When shipping commercial freight or cargo packages across international borders, understanding the real-time location and handling status of your air waybill is essential. Global air carriers utilize standardized code sets developed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), known as Cargo Interchange Message Procedures (Cargo-IMP). These codes provide a uniform language to track shipping milestones without translation discrepancies, ensuring shippers, consignees, freight forwarders, and customs offices remain aligned.
In this glossary, we define and explain the most common AWB cargo status codes that populate when querying systems like our unified tracker. Each milestone corresponds to specific operations occurring at airport cargo terminals, flight decks, or customs inspection centers.
| IATA Code | Status Name | Milestone Group | Description & Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| RCS | Received from Shipper | Airport Handling | The airline has physically received the cargo from the shipper or forwarder at the origin airport and officially accepted it for shipment. |
| DEP | Departed / Flown | Flight Transit | The flight carrying the cargo has taken off from the departure airport. |
| ARR | Arrived | Flight Transit | The flight carrying the cargo has landed at the arrival airport. |
| RCF | Received from Flight | Flight Transit | The cargo has been unloaded from the aircraft, checked in, and received at the airline's terminal at destination or transit point. |
| NFD | Notify Party | Destination | The consignee or customs broker has been officially notified that the cargo has arrived and is ready for clearance and collection. |
| DLV | Delivered | Final Delivery | The final step. Cargo has been cleared by customs and officially picked up by or delivered to the consignee or their agent. |
| MAN | Manifested | Airport Handling | The cargo has been added to the flight cargo manifest and is scheduled for loading on the aircraft. |
| AWR | Held by Customs | Destination | The cargo is undergoing import customs inspection, awaiting paperwork, or held for regulatory duty payment. |
| TRNS | Transferred | Flight Transit | The cargo has been handed over to an interline partner airline or road feeder logistics trucking service. |
| DIS | Refused / Discrepancy | Exceptions | An issue was reported by handlers or the consignee refused to take delivery of the cargo. |
| MSCA | Missing Cargo / Shortage | Exceptions | Packages were found to be missing from the container during scanning or break-down. |
Detailed Guide to the Air Cargo Milestone Lifecycle
Every commercial freight shipment follows a strict operational path from origin check-in to destination clearance. The typical lifecycle coordinates multiple organizations, airport ground handlers, customs agents, and transportation networks. Below, we break down these stages so you can understand the milestone sequence on your waybill.
1. Booking and Airport Check-in (MAN & RCS)
The journey starts when your freight forwarder books cargo capacity with an airline like 176 Emirates SkyCargo or 020 Lufthansa Cargo. At this stage, the waybill status defaults to **Manifested (MAN)**, signifying that the digital record has been logged and space is reserved on a scheduled cargo flight.
Once the truck delivers the physical crates to the airport cargo terminal warehouse, the airline checks them in. Warehouse operators scan the AWB, weigh the shipment, and inspect the outer packaging. If everything matches the paperwork, they issue the **Received from Shipper (RCS)** scan. This is a critical legal checkpoint: the airline officially takes possession and liability of your freight.
2. Flight Loading and Transit (DEP & ARR)
After check-in, cargo handlers build up the cargo onto Unit Load Device (ULD) metal pallets or containers. They load the ULDs onto the main deck of freighter aircraft or into the belly-hold of passenger planes. As the aircraft departs the runway, the status changes to **Departed (DEP)**. If you are tracking connecting flights, you may see multiple DEP updates as the cargo transits major hubs, commonly tracked on carriers like 157 Qatar Airways or 172 Cargolux.
Upon landing at the destination gateway airport, the cargo is marked **Arrived (ARR)**. The flight crew hands over the cargo manifest to the local terminal office, signaling the completion of the airborne transit segment.
3. Destination Unloading and Customs Clearance (RCF, AWR, NFD)
Once landed, the physical packages are unloaded from the plane and transferred to the airline's local destination cargo facility. Upon check-in at the warehouse, the status updates to **Received from Flight (RCF)**. This indicates that the ULD has been disassembled, and individual cargo pieces are counted and placed on storage shelves.
At this point, import customs clearance begins. If the customs system flags the shipment for review, or if duty payments are pending, the waybill status updates to **Held by Customs (AWR)**. Once the cargo is released, the airline issues a **Notify (NFD)** scan, informing the broker or consignee that the shipment is cleared and ready for physical collection.
4. Final Delivery and Pick-Up (DLV)
The final segment involves the physical pick-up. An authorized truck carrier arrives at the airline cargo terminal, presents the delivery order, pays any local handling fees, and loads the freight. The warehouse team scans the waybill one final time as the goods exit the loading dock, updating the status to **Delivered (DLV)**, bringing the air cargo lifecycle to a successful close.
Key Milestones Explained
RCS vs RCF: What is the difference?
These are two of the most common cargo statuses. RCS (Received from Shipper) represents the initial drop-off at the origin airport and acceptance into the carrier's possession. RCF (Received from Flight) represents arrival and unloading at a transit point or the final destination airport, meaning the physical plane has landed and ground staff are checking the cargo in.
What happens after NFD (Notify)?
Once your AWB shows NFD, it indicates the airline has sent out arrival notices. Shippers or brokers must act quickly to submit customs entries, pay local handling fees, and arrange import clearance. The next statuses typically move to AWR (Held by Customs), followed by clearance completion, and finally DLV (Delivered) upon pick-up.