Nowadays, the economy has become global and interconnected. Thus, businesses often need to ship their goods efficiently and rapidly worldwide. Air shipment is a suitable solution for it. But what is air freight, and how does it differ from air shipping? Still, these processes have similarities, they serve different purposes in logistics.
We review the aspects of freight by air, compare it with other transportation models, and provide a guide on understanding when air freight is the right option.
Air Freight vs. Air Shipping: Understanding the Difference
Air shipment and air freight are often confused with each other, as they both involve the transport of goods by aircraft. However, they have different purposes. For instance, air freight refers to large quantities of cargo transported in bulk.
Usually, specialized cargo it involves the use of specialized cargo planes or using an aircraft as part of large logistical operation managed by freight forwarders. Businesses use air freight to move commercial goods in significant volumes.
Now, review air shipment. This process refers to smaller shipments, often with individual packages or items. The example of it is an express shipment from a business to a customer. Air shipping is often used for time-sensitive items and small consumer goods.
Both of these options are important for global commerce. However, they serve different needs based on the size and urgency of the cargo.
Common Products Shipped by Air
Air freight is suited for a range of goods, especially for those that require fast delivery, high security, or special handling. Let’s review some of the most commonly transported goods.
- E-commerce goods. E-commerce made a huge impact on global retail, requiring fast and reliable shipping methods. Air shipment is a major element of it, especially for cross-border transactions. Electronics, clothing, cosmetics, and other high-value items are often transported by air. This ensures quick delivery, meeting consumers demand.
- Manufacturing components. Freight by air is important element for many industries such as automotive and aerospace. Their supply chain requires smooth and fast delivery of the necessary parts and components such as electronic parts, mechanical components, or machinery spares. Air freight helps producers maintain their just-in-time inventory systems and meet production schedules.
- Perishables. Fresh products, seafood, and other perishable goods have a short shelf life. Thus, they require swift transportation to retain their freshness. Freight by air is ideal for transporting perishables, as it reduced transit times and minimizes the risk of spoilage.
- Pharmaceuticals. This industry depends heavily on fast and reliable transportation methods. This is especially important for temperature-sensitive drugs and vaccines. Air freight ensures secure, temperature0controlled environments, maintaining the integrity of medical supplies. This delivery method also ensures critical medications are available to hospitals when needed.
- Dangerous goods. Transporting hazardous materials involves a range of challenges such as strict regulations and safety standards. Air freight is often used for delivery of dangerous goods like chemicals, lithium batteries, and flammable substances. This solution offers a high level of control, speed, and safety.
Key Players in Air Freight
The global air freight industry is a complex network, involving several major players. Prominent cargo airlines like FedEx, UPS, and DHL, are industry giants that dominate the market. They operate large cargo planes, handle millions of shipments, and provide reliable and timely delivery services.
These companies have extensive infrastructure that allows them to offer a variety of services and solutions, from express air chipping to large-scale freight by air.
The key players of the industry facilitate the movement of goods, whether you ship pharmaceuticals or hazardous materials however, this process requires meticulous coordination to ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements and custom clearance.
Logity Dispatch stands out by its personalized and flexible solutions tailored to the specific needs of businesses. We help with the whole process of freight by air, from route planning and cargo handling to coordination with carriers and customs documentation. Our comprehensive air freight service provides you with cost-effective and efficient solutions.
The Air Freight Process
The freight by air process involves several steps. Each of them requires careful planning and coordination across several parties. The process itself is complex, while ensuring the safe and efficient delivery of goods.
- Booking. Businesses or individuals arrange the air freight service through a carrier or logistics provider. This includes choosing the right flight, route, and type of cargo space needed.
- Pickup. The freight is collected from the shipper’s location and transport to the airport.
- Documentation. All shipments require accurate and reliable documentation and permits. It’ particularly important for international shipments to ensure customs clearance.
- Security screening. The load must undergo security screening at the airport. The aim is to ensure compliance with aviation safety regulations.
- Air transport. As the cargo is checked, it is loaded in cargo planes or the freight sections of passenger planes for transportation.
- Arrival and customs. After the reaching the destination, the shipment is cleared though customs (in case of international delivery). This includes inspecting the documents and the cargo itself.
- Final delivery. The goods are transported from the airport to the final recipient. For that part, truck or other local transportation mode can be used.
Pros and Cons of Air Freight
Air freight offers several advantages, including speed and reliability. However, it also involves arrange of drawbacks like required costs and environmental impact. For more informed decisions, you should understand the pros and cons of air freight.
Pros | Cons |
Fast delivery (1-3 days for international shipments) | Higher cost compared to other transport modes |
High security and tracking capabilities | Strict weight and volume restrictions |
Suitable for perishable and high-value goods | Can be delayed amid weather or air traffic |
Extensive global reach | Requires stringent customs paperwork |
Reliable for urgent deliveries | Requires access to reliable infrastructure |
Minimal risk of accidents or cargo damage | High environmental impact |
Reduced need for warehousing due to the fast delivery | Involves handling fees at airports and additional charges for special handling |
When to Choose Air Freight Shipping
Air freight is a suitable option when speed is needed. Businesses choose air shipping when they need to deliver time-sensitive, valuable, or perishable goods in short time. Thus, it’s the only viable solution for industries like pharmaceuticals, where delays lead to financial losses.
However, companies should consider the higher costs involved compared to other modes of transportation.
In particular, you should choose air freight when:
- The shipment is time-sensitive.
- The shipment includes high0value or perishable goods.
- There is need to reach remote or distant markets.
- The size and weight of the shipment fits within air freight limits.
Comparing Air Freight with Other Modes
When you consider transportation options, you must weigh such aspects as speed, cost, and capacity. Air freight stands out as the fastest and most reliable method of international delivery. However, it’s important to compare it to other modes of transportation to choose the most appropriate method.
Sea freight is the primary alternative to air freight, especially for large and bulk shipments. It’s more cost-effective for high volumes of goods over long distances. For industries like manufacturing that need move heavy machinery or raw materials, sea freight is the more economical option. However, it involves longer transit times up to weeks.
Rail freight is also viable option for transporting goods. It’s slower than air shipment, while faster then sea freight. Transportation by rail also offers a balance of cost and efficiency. Rail transport is effective for countries and regions without access to sea. However, this option doesn’t provide an option of global reach, making it less flexible for international shipments.
Road freight is a suitable option for shorter distances. It’s ideal for regional transportation and last-mile deliveries. Road freight is often used with air and sea transport, moving goods from ports or airports to final destinations. Road freight is also less expensive that air freight. However, it’s slower and caused to delays amid traffic, weather, or road infrastructure issues.
Conclusion
In today’s fast-moving global economy, air freight and air shipment are vital elements of logistics. Whether it’s e-commerce goods, manufacturing components, perishables, or pharmaceuticals, the delivery freight by air ensures fast and efficient delivery. While this mode involves higher costs, it ensures speed, security, and reliability.
However, air shipments can involve a range of challenges and issues. You should understand the difference between air shipment and air freight, conduct thorough preparation, and ensure timely and accurate communication between parties of the delivery process.
If you need fast and reliable air freight services, Logity Dispatch is ready to help. Our solutions streamline your supply chain, ensuring the products reach their destination on time and in perfect condition.
Article and permission to publish here provided by Oleg Pelypan. Originally written for Supply Chain Game Changer and published on October 8, 2024.
Cover image provided by Oleg Pelypan.