Flight Date vs. AWB Issue Date: Which Marks the Shipment?

Intro:

In trade finance, determining the exact shipment date can be trickier than it seems—especially when an air waybill shows different dates in various fields. A common question is whether a “flight date” noted in the AWB can be treated as the actual date of shipment under UCP 600 and ISBP 821. Let’s explore a real-life example.

QUESTION

Dear Mr. Old Man,

Imagine the following scenario:

• AWB issuing date: 21.08.2025
• In the field “Nature of Goods” it is indicated: “Flight date: 19.08.2025”

Which date should be considered for determining the date of shipment? Can the indication “Flight date: 19.08.2025” be regarded as the “specific notation of the actual date of shipment” as referred to in the UCP?

Thank you.

Dom

_______

ANSWER

Dear Dom,

Thank you for your question.

ISBP 821, paragraph H8(b) provides guidance on determining the actual date of shipment for air transport documents. It states:

“In the absence of a specific notation containing the actual date of shipment, any other information appearing on an air transport document relative to this information (including, for example, in a box labeled ‘For Carrier Use Only’, ‘Required Flight Date’ or ‘Routing and Destination’) is to be disregarded in the determination of the date of shipment.”

In your scenario:

• The AWB was issued on 21.08.2025.
• The field “Nature of Goods” shows “Flight date: 19.08.2025.”

This field is not among the boxes listed in H8(b), and no separate specific notation of the actual shipment date exists. Therefore, the “Flight date: 19.08.2025” can be treated as a specific notation of the actual date of shipment for UCP 600 and ISBP purposes.

Conclusion: The shipment date should be considered 19.08.2025, as indicated in the “Nature of Goods” field.

Best regards,

Mr. Old Man