What is air cargo?

Air cargo is a term used for the transportation of goods by air. Air freight requires special packaging and handling. It is usually a lot more expensive than transport or sea. But it is the fastest method of transporting products.

How to arrange air cargo?

A freight forwarder can handle the entire process for you, from preparation of documentation to delivery. Together with the freight forwarder and the supplier, you agree on who is responsible for what part of the transport.

Advantages and disadvantages of air freight versus sea freight

The advantages of air transport:
Speed: The main advantage over other methods of transport is speed. A container ship from, say, China to the Netherlands quickly takes 5 or 6 weeks, while an airplane does it in a few hours.

The disadvantages of air transportation
Cost: Air transportation is more expensive than other modes of transportation. A freight forwarder will give you an estimate of costs prior to the shipment.

Air freight is extremely unsuitable for large, relatively inexpensive objects such as furniture, for example. It is suitable for small, expensive objects such as jewelry. This is because the cost is mainly determined by the total volume (the size of the cargo). An airplane can be filled with jewelry for much more value than with furniture. As a result, the cost of transporting jewelry is relatively lower.

Air Cargo Legislation
Air cargo is subject to complex legal regulations and restrictions. The delivery of most cargo must be accompanied by a paper air waybill, or Air Waybill (AWB): a document that lists some key things about the cargo such as what it is, its weight and numbers. It must meet the requirements established according to IATA. More good information on this subject can be found on the Chamber of Commerce site.

Possible required documents for air transport

- Air waybill (AWB).

-Commercial invoices

- Certificates of origin

- Packing lists

- Health certificates for live animals and plants

- Phytosanitary certificates for plants and plant products.

- Certificates of Analysis (CoA) for chemicals, etc.

The right air freight forwarder is one that can provide you with good information and the best service. The best way to choose a good air freight forwarder is to ask for their previous clients' references and check with them about their experiences with that company.

Facts and figures

In 2012, American Airlines had revenues of $30 billion - up 10% from 2011. Air cargo accounted for $3 billion of that revenue.

The largest air freight carrier in the world is UPS (United Parcel Service). They had more than 100 million shipments in 2012, accounting for $58 billion .

In 2013, the volume of goods moved by air was worth more than $200 billion and totaled nearly 148 million tons of cargo. Of this total the international markets accounted for $157 billion and 148 million tons.