Is an Airway Bill mandatory for all air exports from India?

Yes. Under the Customs Act, 1962, and FTDR Act regulations, every air shipment from India must have a valid AWB issued by an IATA-licensed airline or authorized freight forwarder. Without an AWB, cargo cannot legally depart Indian airports and export incentive claims (RoDTEP, EPCG, duty drawback) will be rejected.

Who can issue an Airway Bill in India?

Only IATA-accredited airlines operating from Indian airports and their authorized NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers) agents holding valid RCMC certificates issued by FIEO can issue AWBs. Freight forwarders must be registered with customs and IATA. Ground handling agents must be licensed by the airport operator.

What is the difference between an Airway Bill and a Bill of Lading?

An Airway Bill (AWB) is used exclusively for air cargo and is non-negotiable (consignee cannot sell goods in transit). A Bill of Lading (B/L) is used for sea freight and is negotiable (can be endorsed to third parties). AWBs are processed faster (24-48 hours transit typical) while B/Ls involve 10-30 day sea voyages. Both serve as customs clearance documents.

How long must I retain Airway Bill copies for customs compliance?

Exporters and importers must maintain all AWB copies and supporting customs declarations for a minimum of 5 years as per Customs Act and GST rules, subject to verification by CBIC audit teams. Digital scans uploaded to the Customs Automated System (CAS) satisfy record-keeping requirements if certified copies are available.

Can an Airway Bill be amended after issuance?

No. Once an AWB is issued and cargo is tendered to the airline, amendments are not permitted. Discrepancies in AWB details (shipper, consignee, commodity description, weight) must be resolved before cargo acceptance. If corrections are needed, a new AWB must be issued and the original cancelled; this may delay shipment and incur charges.

Airway Bill

Learn about Airway Bills (AWB) for Indian air cargo exports-imports. IEC, customs compliance, fees, and process explained by EXIM Saathi's trade experts.

Obtain valid IEC from DGFT and GST registration from tax authorities; ensure current business credentials are updated
Select an IATA-licensed airline or authorized freight forwarder and request AWB prefix allocation for shipment
Prepare complete shipping documentation: commercial invoice, packing list, export/import declaration, and product certifications as applicable
Submit cargo details and receive pre-printed AWB with 11-digit unique number; complete all three original copies accurately
File SDF (exports) or Bill of Entry (imports) with customs at the airport; await clearance approval before cargo dispatch or receipt

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What is Airway Bill?

An Airway Bill (AWB) is a non-negotiable transport document issued by an airline or its authorized freight forwarder that serves as a receipt for cargo accepted for air shipment. Under the Customs Act, 1962 and the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 (FTDR Act), the AWB is the primary document for tracking international air shipments and facilitating customs clearance at Indian airports. The AWB contains detailed information about the shipper, consignee, goods description, weight, dimensions, special handling requirements, and charges applicable.

The AWB is issued in three original copies: one retained by the shipper, one accompanying the shipment, and one retained by the airline. In the Indian export-import ecosystem, the AWB serves as evidence of dispatch for claiming benefits under schemes like RoDTEP (Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products), EPCG (Export Promotion Capital Goods), and advance authorization schemes under the FTP 2023-28.

Pricing

Package	Price	Details
Standard	On request	Including document prep

Process

📋
Obtain valid IEC from DGFT and GST registration from tax authorities; ensure current business credentials are updated
🔍
Select an IATA-licensed airline or authorized freight forwarder and request AWB prefix allocation for shipment
📝
Prepare complete shipping documentation: commercial invoice, packing list, export/import declaration, and product certifications as applicable
✅
Submit cargo details and receive pre-printed AWB with 11-digit unique number; complete all three original copies accurately
📤
File SDF (exports) or Bill of Entry (imports) with customs at the airport; await clearance approval before cargo dispatch or receipt

Documents Required

Valid IEC (Importer-Exporter Code) issued by DGFT
Commercial Invoice with itemized description, HS codes, unit prices, and total value
Packing List detailing weight, dimensions, and packaging configuration per AWB line items
SDF (Shipping Document Format) for exports or Bill of Entry for imports filed with CBIC-governed customs authority
Certificate of Origin, Quality Certificate, or Inspection Report as required by destination country regulations
GST registration certificate and Authority Letter (if using freight forwarder or customs broker)

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Airway Bill

Learn about Airway Bills (AWB) for Indian air cargo exports-imports. IEC, customs compliance, fees, and process explained by EXIM Saathi's trade experts.

Obtain valid IEC from DGFT and GST registration from tax authorities; ensure current business credentials are updated

Select an IATA-licensed airline or authorized freight forwarder and request AWB prefix allocation for shipment

Prepare complete shipping documentation: commercial invoice, packing list, export/import declaration, and product certifications as applicable

Submit cargo details and receive pre-printed AWB with 11-digit unique number; complete all three original copies accurately

File SDF (exports) or Bill of Entry (imports) with customs at the airport; await clearance approval before cargo dispatch or receipt

Google VerifiedBusiness

500+Export Clients Served

End-to-EndEXIM Support

What is Airway Bill?

Package

Price

Details

Standard

On request

Including document prep

Process

📋

Obtain valid IEC from DGFT and GST registration from tax authorities; ensure current business credentials are updated

🔍

Select an IATA-licensed airline or authorized freight forwarder and request AWB prefix allocation for shipment

📝

Prepare complete shipping documentation: commercial invoice, packing list, export/import declaration, and product certifications as applicable

✅

Submit cargo details and receive pre-printed AWB with 11-digit unique number; complete all three original copies accurately

📤

File SDF (exports) or Bill of Entry (imports) with customs at the airport; await clearance approval before cargo dispatch or receipt

Documents Required

Valid IEC (Importer-Exporter Code) issued by DGFT

Commercial Invoice with itemized description, HS codes, unit prices, and total value

Packing List detailing weight, dimensions, and packaging configuration per AWB line items

SDF (Shipping Document Format) for exports or Bill of Entry for imports filed with CBIC-governed customs authority

Certificate of Origin, Quality Certificate, or Inspection Report as required by destination country regulations

GST registration certificate and Authority Letter (if using freight forwarder or customs broker)