Air Freight
If you need a shipment moved door to door over a medium to long distance, and moved fast, air freight will best fit your needs.
How air cargo travels
With air freight, cargo is carried in different types of aircraft.
Passenger aircraft
In the cargo area below the passengers, the so-called belly.
In the passenger cabin as hand-carry by an on-board courier flying as a passenger, sometimes called hand-carry services.
Cargo aircraft, or freighters
On the main deck or in the belly.
Loaded by nose loading, where the whole nose is opened, or by side loading through a large cargo door.
Combi aircraft
On the main deck behind the passengers’ area, with side loading through a large cargo door.
In the belly.
The four main shippers of air freight
| Shipper | Consignments carried | Who operates the aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| Postal companies, using airmail | Envelopes and parcels up to 30 kg | Air transport generally outsourced to airlines |
| International courier companies | Envelopes and parcels up to 75 kg | Air transport generally outsourced to airlines |
| International express companies, or integrators | Envelopes and parcels up to 75 kg | Generally operate their own aircraft; some destinations outsourced to airlines, aircraft operators or air charter companies |
| Air freight forwarders | Parcels and consolidations over 75 kg, up to anything that fits in an aircraft | Air transport generally outsourced to airlines, and sometimes to aircraft operators or air charter companies |
Where the forwarder sits
Air freight forwarders are the traditional, and still the most important, customers for the airlines. Forwarders contract, book and process over 80 per cent of international air cargo consignments. They compile the complete and, where necessary, customised door-to-door air cargo supply chains for their customers, which the airlines often call end-customers. The airlines deliver the airport-to-airport transport in that chain.
What typically flies
Air transport is relatively expensive, but it is often the fastest mode available over medium to long distances. Typical air cargo is therefore goods with a high value, or an operationally or commercially critical delivery time, or both:
- Airmail and diplomatic mail
- Live animals, hatching eggs, human organs, human remains and medical supplies
- Express parcels
- Perishables such as food, flowers and dry-ice shipments
- Pharmaceuticals
- Technical supplies
- Luxury consumer goods such as electronics, fashion goods and accessories
The air freight supply chain
When demand in one place is supplied from another with air transport as the main mode, an air cargo supply chain has to be compiled. It runs in these steps:
- Shipping
- Clearing and forwarding out
- Air transport
- Clearing and forwarding in
- Consignment
Get an air freight quote
Tell us what is moving, from where and to where, and we will price it.