What is air freight?

Air freight refers to transporting goods via aircraft, offering the fastest way to move cargo across long distances. Businesses rely on air freight for its speed, reliability, and global reach, making it essential for industries with time-sensitive, high-value, or perishable goods.

Unlike other shipping methods, air freight operates on strict schedules, ensuring faster transit times and reducing supply chain delays. While it is more expensive than ocean or land freight, the benefits of quick delivery and enhanced security often outweigh the cost for urgent shipments.

Air freight vs. air shipping: What’s the difference?

Air freight and air shipping essentially describe transporting goods by air. Though often interchangeable, there’s a subtle difference:

• Air shipping: A broad term that refers to all goods transported by air, including passenger luggage, small parcels, and large cargo shipments.
• Air freight: A specific category within air shipping, referring to the commercial transportation of goods via dedicated cargo aircraft or freight services. It also encompasses logistics, costs, and regulations involved in air cargo transport.

In this article, we focus on air freight (also known as air cargo), but you may see the terms used interchangeably in relevant contexts.

Why do businesses choose air freight?

Compared to other transportation modes (sea, rail, or road), air freight is the fastest for long-distance transport, making it essential for time-sensitive shipments.

What types of cargo are transported by air?

The air freight market, with an expected projection exceeding 210 billion US dollars by 2027, fuels global trade by swiftly delivering critical goods. Some of the most common items are:

• E-commerce: Electronics, luxury items, and high-demand fashion.
• Manufacturing: Critical components for just-in-time inventory management.
• Humanitarian aid: Emergency supplies like medicines, food, and shelter materials.
• Perishables: Fresh produce, seafood, flowers, and other temperature-sensitive items.
• Pharmaceuticals: Drugs, vaccines, temperature-sensitive medicine products.

How air freight works: Step-by-step process

Though air freight transportation seems simple, every shipment goes through multiple stages:

1. Booking and planning: Confirm your shipment details, choose a carrier, and secure a shipping slot.
2. Preparing and packing: Package goods securely, prepare required documents, and ensure compliance with shipping regulations.
3. Collection and consolidation: Your cargo is picked up and combined with other shipments to optimise space and costs.
4. Customs clearance: Both import and export customs requirements must be met, including inspections and potential duties.
5. Air transport: The shipment is flown via a cargo plane or commercial aircraft, depending on size, weight, and urgency.
6. Arrival and final delivery: After customs clearance at the destination airport, the cargo is delivered to its final location.