Almost 50% of the total air freight is lifted by “belly cargo” which is the passenger airline accepting the freight to be carried in its belly. As we know the rest 50% is moved by dedicated freighters and charted freighters.
Airlines get their cost and profit from the passenger transport and the belly cargo brings a bonus. Which almost all the passenger airlines management motivated to accept air cargo
Air cargo is expensive compared to the other mode of cargo transporting. However, the urgent shipments need to be carried by air freights only. Most pharmaceutical companies, express courier services and the traders highly depend on the airfreight.
The improved technology and the internet contributed a high standard on the air cargo industry. Most airlines have adopted electronic documentation, manifest and airway bills which enable the carrier and the customers to get the real time shipment and the flight status.
Unlike the sea freight, airlines got limitations on the dimensions and the weights, narrow flights accept only regular size shipments, where the wide aircrafts can carry much bigger shipments.
All Airlines follow the conditions and the rate Tariffs by IATA. However, the rates are discounted as per the volume increases.
General Cargo refers to shipment which shall not fall in any special category, dry cargo.
Perishable cargo may be defined as goods that can deteriorate if not stored or transported under ideal circumstances or if exposed to adverse temperature, humidity and other environmental conditions. Examples of perishable cargo are Fruits, Vegetables, Seafoods, cooked food, Meat, Dairy etc.
Explosives, Gases; compressed, liquefied or dissolved under pressure, Flammable liquids, Flammable solids; Substances liable to spontaneous combustion; Substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases, Oxidizing substances (agents) and organic peroxides, Toxic and infectious substances, Radioactive materials, Corrosives, Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles Non-classified materials
Household Goods and personal effects are considered as general cargo, but there are times the shippers include perishables in the package thinking it’s an express cargo reaches in a day or two. But that’s not the case, perishable shouldn’t be included in the personal Effects and household goods. Some of the shippers keep perfumes, liquids, spirits and alcohols in the shipments which turns the shipment to be Hazardous.
Air Freight shipments are calculated as the Actual Weight (Gross Weight) or the Volumetric (also called Volume or Dimensional) Weight of the shipment, whichever is the greater. ... Typically, large items with a light overall weight take up more space on an aircraft than a small, heavy item. Thus, the airline considers a chargeable weight
Length x Width x Height (in Centimeters) / 6000 is the calculation to get the volume weight by IATA for the shipments moved by the regular passenger airlines.
But the Courier / Personal effects / Parcels services including DHL / FedEx / TNT / UPS etc. accept a with a different calculation
Length x Width x Height in centimeters / 5000 = Volumetric Weight in kilograms
Length x Width x Height in inches / 138.4 = Volumetric Weight in pounds rounded up to the nearest pound
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