TL;DR: An air waybill (AWB) is the contract of carriage between the shipper and the airline, and its number has 11 digits: a three-digit airline prefix and an eight-digit shipment number, the last of which is a check digit. The number is what you track the cargo by with the airline, at the Ben Gurion cargo terminals and in the Israel Tax Authority's cargo search. Damage to cargo is complained of in writing within 14 days of receipt, and the airline's liability is limited to 26 SDR per kg (about US$35 according to ICAO) unless a higher value was declared.
What an Air Waybill Is
According to IATA, the air waybill (AWB) is the contract of carriage between the shipper and the airline. Its terms are set by IATA Resolutions 600a and 600b. IATA describes it as a non-negotiable document and states that the shipper is responsible for the correctness of all the information on it.
How the Number Is Built
Under the IATA standard, an AWB number has 11 digits in the format 000-00000000. The first three digits are the airline prefix and the eight digits after the hyphen are the shipment number. The last digit is a check digit: the remainder when the seven digits before it are divided by 7. For example, in 114-12345675 the prefix 114 is El Al, and the check digit is 5, because 1234567 divided by 7 leaves a remainder of 5. A number whose check digit does not match was typed wrongly.
Airline Prefixes
According to the IATA airline directory:
| Prefix | Airline |
|---|---|
| 114 | El Al |
| 235 | Turkish Airlines |
| 020 | Lufthansa Cargo |
| 176 | Emirates |
| 074 | KLM |
| 057 | Air France |
| 125 | British Airways |
MAWB and HAWB
When a freight forwarder combines several customers' shipments into one (consolidation), two kinds of waybill are created. Under IATA's e-AWB procedures, the forwarder at origin prepares the master air waybill (MAWB) and the house manifest and sends them to the airline, and the house waybill (HAWB) data is created in the forwarder's system.
- MAWB: the waybill with the airline, with an 11-digit number starting with the airline's prefix.
- HAWB: the forwarder's waybill with each customer, with a number the forwarder sets.
If you only received a HAWB number, you can ask the forwarder for the MAWB number.
Tracking the Shipment
In the Israel Tax Authority's Cargo Search
The Israel Tax Authority lets you locate a shipment by its air waybill number in the cargo search of the Sha'ar Olami system. According to the system's questions and answers page, the result shows the company handling the shipment, with a link to its website and a phone number, and the customs house handling it. Once a customs declaration has been filed, it also shows whether there is a debt to customs, and after the debt is paid the shipment is released from customs supervision.
The Tax Authority writes that in most cases a shipment is not held up by customs, and that every shipment requires a customs declaration filed by the handling party. When a shipment is said to be delayed, it refers you first to the handling company, to find out whether the declaration was filed or documents are missing.
Sha'ar Olami system support centre: 03-5312222, Sunday to Thursday 08:00-22:00.
In the TLV Flights Cargo Tracking Tool
The cargo tracking tool takes an 11-digit MAWB number, checks the status at the two cargo terminals at Ben Gurion, Maman and Swissport, and lets you sign up for alerts on status changes and see all the shipments you follow in one place.
Customs Release
Under the Tax Authority's release procedure (section 62(c) of the Customs Ordinance), the import declaration is accompanied by the air waybill, the supplier's invoice, the packing list, the freight and insurance invoices (if not included in the sale), a preferential origin document if any, and licences and approvals relating to the legality of the import.
Under the Customs Agents Law, a customs agent is someone who performs a customs action "for another". The law does not require an importer to use an agent to handle their own goods. The Customs Brokers in Israel guide explains when an agent is used.
A parcel sent by EMS or through a shipping company is cleared by the customs agent of Israel Post or of the company. According to the Tax Authority, such a shipment worth up to US$75 is exempt from import taxes, except tobacco, alcohol and e-cigarettes.
Cargo arriving at Ben Gurion is stored at one of the cargo terminals, Maman or Swissport.
Damage, Delay and Changing the Consignee
Damage or Delay
Under Article 31 of the Montreal Convention, damage to cargo is complained of to the airline as soon as it is discovered, and at the latest within 14 days of receiving the cargo. Delay is complained of within 21 days of the day the cargo was placed at the recipient's disposal. The complaint is made in writing. Under IATA's conditions of contract (Resolution 600b), non-delivery is complained of within 120 days of the date the air waybill was issued.
According to ICAO, since 28 December 2024 the airline's liability for cargo that is lost, damaged or delayed is limited to 26 SDR per kilogram (about US$35 according to ICAO). The SDR is a unit of account of the International Monetary Fund. Under Article 22(3) of the Convention, a shipper who made a special declaration of value when handing the shipment to the airline, and paid a supplementary sum if required, is not limited to that amount.
Changing the Consignee
Under Article 12 of the Montreal Convention, the shipper may instruct the airline to deliver the cargo to someone other than the original consignee, to stop it on the way or to return it to the airport of departure, and must pay the expenses. This right of the shipper ends when the consignee's right under Article 13 begins: on arrival at the destination, the consignee is entitled to receive the cargo on payment of the charges due.
A Missing Document
Under Article 9 of the Convention, when there is no air waybill or details on it are missing, the contract of carriage still exists and is valid, and the Convention applies to it.
Sources: IATA (AWB number standard, airline directory, e-AWB procedures, conditions of contract 600b, tariffs guide), the Montreal Convention (EUR-Lex), ICAO, Israel Tax Authority (cargo search, release procedure, personal import guide), Customs Agents Law (Nevo), Maman, Swissport.
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