Air freight is the transport of commercial goods by aircraft. Businesses typically use it when delivery speed, product value, inventory urgency or route reliability outweighs the higher cost compared with ocean or ground transport.
How does an air-freight shipment move?
The process can include booking, pickup, security screening, export clearance, terminal handling, flight transport, import clearance and final delivery. A freight forwarder may coordinate several of these parties.
How is air freight charged?
Carriers commonly compare actual weight with volumetric or dimensional weight and charge using the higher figure, subject to rate and minimum-charge rules.
Volumetric weight = shipment volume ÷ carrier divisor
For example, if a carrier applies a divisor of 6,000 cm³/kg, a carton measuring 60 × 50 × 40 cm has a volumetric weight of 20 kg: 120,000 ÷ 6,000. If its actual weight is 14 kg, the chargeable weight is 20 kg. Divisors and rounding rules vary by carrier.
Which documents are required?
Common records include the commercial invoice, packing list, air waybill, export or import declarations, permits and certificates required for the goods. Document requirements depend on origin, destination and product classification.
Air freight versus air courier
Courier services generally combine transport, tracking and last-mile delivery for smaller shipments. Air freight may involve separate forwarders, brokers and delivery arrangements and is often used for larger or more complex cargo.
What should a shipper verify?
Confirm chargeable weight, rate inclusions, cut-off time, routing, customs responsibility, restricted-goods rules, insurance, storage charges and delivery commitment. Flight arrival does not mean the shipment has cleared customs.
