Introduction to Air Freight

Do you know that air freight is the only option for high value freight and urgent, special deliveries.  Air freight is enjoying increasing  popularity due to high reliability and high on time performance. Current market situation is more attractive and ocean freight is struggling with huge delays and high freight rates to the recent blockage of Suez Canal. So, this contributes to more airlines converting their fleet to cargo machines a offerings. Air freight has become indispensable and Asia has become the World’s largest transshipment hub. Let’s look more into the Air freight.

Understanding Air Freight

Air freight is defined as transportation of goods by aircraft. The cargo goods can be transported either o scheduled or charter flights based on the volume and urgency of freight. A general distinction between consolidated air freight and individual shipment, more commonly known as standard air freight. Standard air freight is loaded below the deck of passenger aircraft, so it is also known as a belly flight.

Small shipments are transported on ULD(Uni Load Device) containers. These are transported via liner, where entire space is filled with containers. More than two third of air cargo is transported on cargo aircraft and one third as additional cargo on regular passenger flights.  Most important categories of ir freight goods include electronics, pharmaceuticals products etc. Air cargo usually does not return to its point of loading and this results in overcapacity in one shipping direction.

Important Players in Air Freight Market

Shipper receives offers related to the available capacity of the carrier. In the case of air freight, air lines sell their capacities to the forwarders and they will fill them with cargo. Since we are travelling across many countries, a wide variety of country specific agreements are involved beyond the contractual setting of the cargo. To create uniformity and equal rights for all participants, International Air Transport Association(IATA) was formed. Freight Forwarder acts as a medium between carrier and customer also as an agent of IATA.

Calculation of Duration And Costs

The advantage of air freight is the speed. Courier goods are delivered latest the very next day while express goods arrives only after a maximum of three days and standard goods after a maximum of 7 days. Thus air freight is the fastest means of transportation, especially for time sensitive and valuable goods.

General Air Freight Rate Calculation

The  air freight rates calculation  is complex,apart from general rates there are other factors, such as commodity class rates and special rates, that influences the final price. Calculation basis depends on two quantities. The volume weight compared to the cargo’s actual weight. Better prices can be offered on routes that serve a high volume of air freight and the total amount of the ordered shipping volume will clearly decide the price. The final price for an airfreight shipment is made up of many factors.

Steps to be followed to get the goods into air

1. Determination of scope of the shipment in freight contract

2. Booking freight space and organize custom clearance.

3. Taking care of upstream, downstream stages in shipping process.

Advantages of Air Freight

1. Fastest, safest and most efficient way to transport goods.

2. Reliable mode of freight.

3. Risk of damage is less.