Logistics & transporten
Air freight
Transport of goods by air, preferred for urgent, high-value, or perishable shipments.
Characteristics
Air freight is the fastest mode of transport for international goods. It represents approximately 35% of global trade value but only 1% of volume. It is preferred for:
- Urgent goods (spare parts, express e-commerce)
- High-value products (electronics, pharmaceuticals, luxury)
- Perishable goods (flowers, fruits, seafood)
- Sensitive shipments (documents, medical samples)
Pricing
Air freight is priced using a weight/volume ratio system:
- Chargeable weight: the higher of actual gross weight and volumetric weight (volume in cm³ ÷ 6,000)
- Rates are structured by weight breaks (minimum, -45 kg, -100 kg, -300 kg, -500 kg, -1000 kg)
- The unit rate decreases as weight increases
Specific regulations
- Dangerous goods: regulated by IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), stricter than for maritime
- Security: all cargo must be secured (screening, regulated agent, known consignor)
- The EU's ACC3 programme imposes security requirements for inbound freight from third countries
Key players
- Cargo airlines: Cargolux, Qatar Airways Cargo, FedEx, UPS
- Integrators: door-to-door services (DHL Express, FedEx Express, UPS Express)
- IATA agents: freight forwarders authorised to issue AWBs and access airline capacity