MAWB and HAWB are the two air waybills in a consolidated shipment. The MAWB (master air waybill) is the waybill between the consolidator and the airline, covering the whole consolidation. The HAWB (house air waybill) is issued by the freight forwarder to each shipper whose goods travel inside that consolidation.
How MAWB and HAWB work
For the airline, the shipper is the consolidator: it sees one shipment under one MAWB. Inside are several customers’ goods, each with its own HAWB. According to IATA, flight manifest and MAWB data are owned by the airline, while each HAWB’s data belongs to the forwarder, who transmits it from its system with the list of HAWBs linked to each MAWB.
How they affect imports from China
On almost every small or mid-size air shipment: your cargo flies consolidated with other customers’ to get a better rate. Your document is the HAWB, which your customs broker needs for clearance, along with the MAWB reference. If the two do not match, clearance can be delayed.
The common mistake
Tracking with the MAWB number and not finding your goods, or tracking the HAWB on the airline’s site, which does not know it. Ask your forwarder for both numbers. The basics are in our Air Waybill (AWB) entry.
Small air shipments from China? We consolidate them from our own team at origin with our air freight service.
What to check on the HAWB: that the consignee name, number of packages, weight and description match the commercial invoice and the packing list. A mismatch between documents is one of the most common causes of delays in air clearance. Keep copies of both waybills with the rest of your import file, since your broker may ask for them after clearance.
Source: IATA, Guidance on Compliance with Electronic ACI Requirements. Current as of October 14, 2026.
