Learn · 6 guides
Air waybill and Cargo-IMP guides
Plain-English guides for freight forwarders, from filling in your first air waybill to reading an FNA reply. They use the IATA names: the FWB is the Air Waybill Data message, the FHL the Consolidation List and the FNA the Cargo-IMP Error message.
01 / Start here
Getting started
- How to create an air waybill (MAWB), step by stepA practical guide to filling in a master air waybill and its FWB Cargo-IMP message: the AWB number and check digit, parties, routing, goods and charges.Guide · 4 min
- How to fill in an air waybill, box by boxThe boxes of the air waybill form in order: what goes in each one and which FWB line carries it, from the AWB number to the signature of the carrier.Guide · 9 min
- MAWB vs HAWB: what is the difference?Master and house air waybills explained for forwarders: who issues each, what each covers, and how the FWB and FHL Cargo-IMP messages relate them.Guide · 3 min
- Neutral AWB explainedWhat a neutral air waybill is: an unbranded AWB form. The number on it is still the airline's 3-digit prefix and a serial the airline allocated to you.Guide · 2 min
02 / FNA replies
Troubleshooting FNA replies
- Air waybill rejected: invalid check digit (FNA)Why an airline can answer an FWB with an FNA for a wrong AWB check digit, and how to fix it with the mod-7 rule. Includes the worked example 020-12345675.Troubleshooting · 2 min
- Air waybill rejected: missing consignee (FNA)What the consignee (CNE) block of an FWB/17 contains, line by line, and how to fix a message the airline answered with an FNA for a missing consignee.Troubleshooting · 3 min
03 / Tools
Free tools
AWB check-digit calculator
Work out or check the mod-7 check digit of any AWB number. Works now, in your browser.
Open the calculator →AWB airline prefix list
Look up the airline behind a 3-digit AWB prefix, with its IATA and ICAO codes. Works now.
Browse the prefix list →FWB/FHL validator
Paste an FWB or FHL and see what the checks flag, with the fix. Opens at public launch.
See what it will check →