Air Freight or Air Cargo – All You Need to Know About

In this changing and busy world, air shipping is the ideal solution to move freight across the country or the globe quickly and safely. Air cargo allows shipping parties to deliver to their customers and markets fast and easily. It is the most valuable when it comes to moving express shipments around the globe. Generally, people used other transportation ways for goods like by sea and by roads but here goods send by air come efficient time savor and are reliable. So many things are coming into our life in different ways and so many parties are involved in the supply chain, so it is important to take a look at air cargo or air freight.

What is Air Freight or Air Cargo?

Air freight is another name for air cargo that is, the shipment of goods through an air carrier. Here Air is the way of transport and freight is the amount paid for the movement of the cargo and cargo means goods. When goods are shipped from one place to the other used by an aircraft carrier or airline called air cargo. Air transport services are the most economical when it comes to moving express shipments locally or internationally. Air transportation is an important part of operating an efficient supply chain.
Air cargo process for domestic and international is the same, but in international air shipments you will experience more involvement of documentation and will have to clear your shipments with customs, and charges are based on factors that can impact the cost like fuel surcharges, airport security cost, airline handling charges, customs clearance fees, etc.

What are Types of Air Cargo?

In air cargo, two types of cargo – general and special cargo.

General Cargo

General cargo is those items that do not fall into the Special Cargo categories and that do not require any extra precautions, manuals, or special handling during air transport. These are mostly retail and most consumer goods like hardware, textiles, and dry goods, except mobile phones, tablets, and laptops. Our everyday usable objects fall into the general cargo area.

Special Cargo

Special cargo is more complicated things because of their special instructions to carry like temperature control, including packaging, labeling, documentation and handling through the transport chain, air conditioning and protection, etc. Items that include dangerous goods, live animals, perishable cargo, wet cargo, and time and temperature-sensitive products, are required to follow specific regulations that must be followed then offering, preparing, accepting, and handling this cargo.

What are Cargo Operations?

Cargo Operations are performed by hundreds of handlers at thousands of airports around the globe. Cargo Operations means activities relating to cargo like coordination of terminal operators, reporting cargo to relevant customs authorities, and various documentation. Cargo operations and handling required processes which the IATA endorsed MOP (Master Operating Plan). Cargo operations include efficiency in warehousing cargo and various documentation processes, transparency of a customer experience, guidance for building cargo facilities, accepting and handling, and ensuring ULDs are handled safely as an aircraft part.

What is Air Cargo Handling?

Air cargo handling is a procedure that starts from the moment the cargo is picked up and sent on its way to the airport. In this process various procedures are involved like pick-up punctuality and order clarification, driver’s receipt, the physical condition of the cargo before pick up, warehouse procedures, and airline procedures. From the delivery at the airport dock area until it is ready for loading on the plane, to the unloading at the destination and handover to the consignee or party many steps are involved with cargo handling that must be closely followed to ensure shipments are delivered safely and securely.

What is Air Freight Forwarder?

Normally every person is not capable of doing all paperwork for the airport and cargo so freight forwarding comes to fulfill that need, which is one of the most important and most used international transport procedures for personal and business use. For the airlines, the air freight forwarder is act like a shipper. An air freight forwarder is an entity that works like an indirect air carrier; while, many air freight forwarders operate their own aircraft as per their need. Freight forwarding companies manage and handle the shipment of goods worldwide. Air Freight Forwarders make sure that shipments from one destination to another are completed and they are responsible for the entire process on behalf of their customers. Freight Forwarders collaborate and work with various airlines to negotiate on the price and decide on the most economical, safe, and fastest route. They have multiple essential roles and responsibilities for checking and ensuring that shipments correctly reach their destination and arrived in a cost-effective and fast manner so their customer satisfaction brings businesses back to them.

Summary

Air freight is another name for air cargo that is, the shipment of goods through an air carrier. Procedures are the same for national and international cargo but in international freight requirements of documentation are more. There are two types of cargo general and special cargo. Cargo operations are performed by handlers at airports, around the globe. Cargo operations follow the master operating plan which is provided by IATA. Air cargo handling is a procedure of operations from the delivery at the airport of origin until it is ready for loading on the plane, to the unloading at the destination and handover to the consignee or party. An air freight forwarder is an indirect air carrier that is responsible for ensuring that all air shipments are correctly reached at destinations and arrived in a cost-effective manner.