Understanding how air freight works is valuable for businesses and individuals looking to transport goods quickly and efficiently across vast distances.
This guide to air freight shipping will guide you through each step of the process, from initial booking and documentation to final delivery and proof of delivery.
You’ll gain insights into the meticulous planning, stringent security measures and detailed coordination to ensure your cargo reaches its destination safely.
Whether you’re shipping small packages or large equipment, this overview will provide a clear picture of the mechanisms behind air freight, helping you to make informed decisions about your shipping needs.
What Is The Purpose Of Air Freight?
Air freight is a shipping method where goods are transported by aircraft. This mode of transportation is important for delivering items rapidly across vast distances
Utilising aircraft such as passenger planes, cargo planes or chartered flights, air freight offers unmatched speed and reliability. It connects even the most remote areas, making it ideal for urgent or time-sensitive shipments.
Whether it’s letters, packages or larger items like cars and construction equipment, air freight adapts to various cargo needs. The efficiency of air freight shipping stands in contrast to slower methods like sea freight, particularly when time is of the essence.
Despite its complexity, with the right documentation and a professional freight forwarder, air freight shipment processes can be streamlined for efficiency.
11 Process Of Air Freight Shipments
The air freight forwarding process involves several detailed and coordinated steps to ensure goods are transported via air safely and efficiently.
This involves everything from initial booking and documentation to the final delivery at the destination. Air freight offers businesses a fast and reliable method to transport goods globally, capitalising on the extensive networks and fixed schedules of airlines.
#1. Booking And Scheduling
The first step in air freight shipping is the booking process. Shippers initiate contact with a freight carrier or agent, providing details about the cargo and necessary documentation, such as permits.
This is similar to booking a flight for yourself, where you must ensure that all prerequisites are met before confirming the shipment. For example, if transporting goods from the UK to Australia, the shipper would choose between different airlines, considering cost and transit times.
Once the cargo’s chargeable weight is determined, the shipper can finalise the booking based on cargo space availability and specific requirements.
This might mean selecting a route primarily using passenger aircraft, as is common in countries like Australia, where 80% of air cargo arrives this way. The carrier then schedules the cargo, picks it up and stores it in their warehouse until it’s ready for the flight.
#2. Pickup And Consolidation
After the booking process, the next step in air freight shipping is the collection of cargo from the shipper’s location. The freight carrier or a dedicated courier picks up the goods, ensuring that all necessary details are provided to handle the cargo appropriately.
Once at the freight terminal, the cargo undergoes quality checks to confirm its physical condition and compatibility with specified transport requirements.
It’s then consolidated with other items destined for similar routes. This consolidation optimises space and reduces costs, preparing the goods for efficient air transport.
#3. Documentation
Proper documentation is important in air freight shipping to facilitate smooth customs clearance and tracking. The key document involved is the air waybill (AWB), which acts as a contract between the shipper and the carrier.
Additional documentation typically includes the commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and customs permit. These documents provide detailed information about the cargo, its origin and the transaction between buyer and seller, often accompanied by payment terms such as a letter of credit.
Accurate documentation ensures that the shipment complies with international regulations and helps track the progress of the cargo throughout its journey.
#4. Export Customs Clearance
During export customs clearance, each package is meticulously checked by the customs department at the airport of origin. This process involves verifying that the consignment aligns with its documentation and does not contain any prohibited or restricted items.
Compliance with export regulations ensures a smooth customs clearance process and prevents legal issues or delays.
The rigorous examination helps to ensure that all shipping cargo adheres to international trade laws, safeguarding against the transport of contraband and ensuring adherence to global shipping standards.
#5. Cargo Inspection And Security Screening
Cargo inspection and security screening are fundamental components of air cargo transport, designed to maintain high safety standards. At the airport, each item of cargo undergoes thorough scrutiny using advanced security measures like X-ray machines and physical inspections.
These technologies help detect prohibited items, such as explosives or illegal goods concealed within shipments.
The intensity of these security checks stems from the need to protect national and international safety, prevent smuggling and ensure that all air freight complies with global security regulations.
Your logistics provider is important in navigating these inspections, ensuring that your cargo adheres to legal requirements specific to its country of origin and destination, ultimately facilitating a seamless shipping process.
#6. Loading And Manifest Preparation
The physical loading of cargo onto an aircraft is a meticulous process. It begins at the cargo terminal, where air freight is arranged into unit load devices (ULDs).
These specialised containers and pallets maximise space and ensure safe handling. Each ULD is weighed and scanned before being carefully loaded onto the aircraft using mechanical loaders. The entire process adheres to strict safety standards to protect both the freight and the aircraft.
Once the cargo is securely loaded, a detailed manifest is prepared. This document lists every item onboard, including shipment details like weight, dimensions and a tracking number.
The freight forwarder ensures all information is accurate and complies with regulatory requirements like the export declaration. The manifest is important for customs and security checks and helps the air freight forwarder manage the cargo during air transport.
#7. Air Transport
Once loaded and documented, the cargo begins its journey from origin to destination. This trip might involve direct flights or transshipments at intermediate airports, depending on the transit times and fixed schedules.
Each leg of the journey is coordinated by air freight services to ensure timely delivery. The cargo might be transferred between different carriers and aircraft types, depending on the size and requirements of the air freight shipment.
The coordination between various airports and air freight services is key to the seamless transport of goods. Each airport must have synchronised operations to efficiently handle incoming and outgoing shipments.
Communication and real-time tracking are valuable, enabling the air freight forwarder to update businesses and customers about the status of their shipments. This integrated approach ensures that air shipments are delivered accurately and efficiently, making air shipping a preferred choice for many businesses.
#8. Unloading And Deconsolidation
Upon arrival at the destination airport, the unloading of air freight is a systematic process. Cargo is carefully removed from the aircraft using special containers and handling equipment to prevent damage. The air cargo is then transported to the cargo terminal, where it is deconsolidated.
This step involves breaking down the consolidated shipments into individual orders. The freight forwarder oversees this process to ensure that each piece of cargo matches the shipment details listed in the tracking system.
Deconsolidation is critical as it prepares the cargo for the next phase: customs clearance. Each item is separated and checked against the manifest to verify its contents and ensure everything is accounted for.
This meticulous attention to detail facilitates smoother customs procedures and helps to avoid delays and potential storage costs.
#9. Import Customs Clearance
The import customs clearance process begins once the cargo has been deconsolidated. Customs authorities inspect the air freight using shipment details from the manifest and necessary documentation such as commercial invoices and packing lists.
This examination helps assess whether the goods meet local import regulations and security measures.
Duties and taxes are then calculated based on the value, type and quantity of goods declared in the commercial invoices. Having all documents in order is valuable as it ensures a quick clearance process.
Correct documentation reduces the risk of delays and additional costs, which is valuable for businesses relying on timely delivery of air shipments.
Efficient handling by the air freight forwarder during this phase is key to ensuring that the cargo is promptly delivered and transported to its final destination without issues.
#10. Delivery To Final Destination
After air freight shipments clear customs, the final stage of transport involves delivery from the destination airport to the consignee’s location.
This delivery is typically handled by a freight forwarder or a specialised logistics provider who arranges for the cargo to be transported, often via road or rail. The service includes unloading the cargo from special containers and securing it for the journey to ensure it arrives safely and intact.
Logistics providers manage the final delivery with meticulous coordination and real-time tracking. They keep the recipient informed about the transit time and expected delivery schedule.
This level of communication ensures that the consignee can prepare for the arrival of the shipment and helps to streamline the drop-off process, making it efficient and reliable.
#11. Proof Of Delivery
Proof of delivery is valuable for both the shipper and the recipient as it confirms that the cargo has been delivered as agreed.
Typically, this proof comes as a signed receipt from the consignee, which the delivery personnel collect at the time of drop-off. Electronic confirmation, often facilitated by scanning a barcode or via a digital signature on a mobile device, is also increasingly common.
Having verifiable proof of delivery helps resolve disputes, track the performance of logistics services and manage storage costs effectively.
It serves as an important document for auditing and is a key piece of the air freight shipping process. This documentation ensures that all parties acknowledge the receipt and condition of the shipped goods, providing peace of mind and enhancing security measures throughout the transport chain.
Air Transit Options For Your Shipment Goods
When shipping time-sensitive goods, choosing the right air transit option is important. Each option balances speed and cost to meet different needs:
- Next Flight Out: This is the fastest option available for air freight shipping. It ensures your cargo is loaded onto the next available flight, which is ideal for urgent shipments. While this option is the most expensive, it minimises transit time and delivers your freight as quickly as possible.
- Second Day: This service is a good compromise between speed and cost. It guarantees that your shipment will arrive by the second day, offering a more affordable rate than the fastest service while maintaining a swift delivery timeline.
- Deferred: For those looking for the most cost-efficient solution, deferred air shipping places your freight on standby. This means your goods will be shipped on the next available flight with spare capacity, which reduces costs but has a longer transit time.
- Charter: If your shipment requires special handling or you need an entire aircraft dedicated to your cargo, chartering a plane is the best option. This is particularly useful for large shipments or when you need to meet specific logistics requirements.
Each option offers different benefits, and your choice will depend on your specific speed, budget and cargo type needs. Consulting with an air freight forwarder can help you navigate these choices effectively.
Conclusion On How Air Freight Works
Air freight is important for optimising the logistics chain from start to finish. This guide has walked you through our important steps involved in air freight shipping, and each step plays a pivotal role in ensuring that shipments are transported efficiently, securely and within regulatory compliance.
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Frequently Asked Questions On How Air Freight Works
How Long Is Air Freight Shipping?
Air freight shipping times vary significantly depending on the route, the availability of direct flights and the specific logistics of the shipment.
Typically, international air freight can take 1 to 5 days, including handling, customs clearance and delivery processes. Local or domestic air freight is generally faster and often completed within 24 hours under optimal conditions.
How Is Air Freight Cost Calculated?
The cost of air freight is primarily determined by the weight and volume of the shipment, the type of cargo and the distance it needs to travel.
Carriers often charge based on a rate per kilogram, but this rate can fluctuate depending on the urgency of the shipment and the specific route’s demand and availability. Charges for fuel, security and accessorial services like pickup and delivery may also apply.
What Are The Weight And Size Restrictions For Air Freight?
The maximum crate size for standard air freight is 2.44 x 3.15m (96 x 125 in). However, special packages can be used to transport larger cargo.
What Is The Difference Between Direct And Indirect Air Freight Services?
Direct air freight services involve shipments transported directly from the origin to the destination without any stops or transfers, offering the fastest transit times. Indirect air freight services may involve one or more stops or transfers, potentially at different airports, which can extend the transit time but often reduce costs.
The choice between direct and indirect services usually depends on the shipper’s budget and time constraints.
How Does Air Freight Compare To Sea Freight?
Air freight is significantly faster than sea freight, making it ideal for time-sensitive shipments, high-value goods or perishable items. However, it is generally more expensive than sea freight, which offers larger capacity and lower costs but with much longer transit times.
Environmental impact is also a consideration where air freight has a higher carbon footprint per kilogram of cargo than sea freight.
