The difference between Air cargo and Air freight
WHAT IS AIR CARGO?
Air cargo is the term used for goods shipped by air, usually by using an air cargo service or third-party logistics provider. However, it can also be shipped as checked luggage on a passenger airline.
There are two types of air cargo – general and special cargo.
WHAT IS AIR FREIGHT?
Airfreight is the term used for goods shipped by air and transported in a cargo hold. Unlike cargo, air freight can’t go on passenger planes. Instead, it’s transported on dedicated cargo planes. Moreover, air freight is usually handled through a freight forwarder.
Air freight planes move anything that can be bought or sold. See how goods are shipped worldwide. You can ship just about anything by air. Letters, packages, cars, horses, construction equipment, and even other airplanes can be shipped air freight.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AIR CARGO VS. AIR FREIGHT?
Air cargo can go on passenger planes:
One of the key differences between air cargo and air freight is that cargo can go on passenger planes in the form of luggage, while air freight can’t.
Airfreight is only transported in a cargo hold on dedicated cargo planes.
Air shipment:
Air cargo is usually shipped by a third-party logistics provider, such as FedEx, or DHL,…
This means that you don’t need to worry about finding air freight services to ship your goods. Instead, the third-party logistics provider will take care of everything.
This does not mean that Air Freight doesn’t use Third-party providers
Air cargo is cheaper than air freight:
One of the benefits of air cargo is that it’s usually less expensive than air freight. That’s because cargo doesn’t require a dedicated cargo plane, which can be expensive.
Air cargo is faster than air freight
Another benefit of air cargo is that it’s usually faster than air freight. This is because it goes on passenger planes, which are usually faster than freight planes.
Airfreight also has a higher transit time.
Air cargo is limited to certain items
Air cargo is limited to certain items (usually small and lightweight). If you need to ship a large item, you’ll need to use air freight.
Plus, cargo is limited to what can fit in a passenger plane’s luggage hold. In contrast, air freight can ship larger items and heavier shipments–even more dangerous goods in the life sciences industry.
Air cargo is less reliable than air freight:
Air cargo is less reliable than air freight. This is because it depends on passenger planes, which can be delayed or canceled.
In contrast, an air freight shipment is transported on dedicated cargo planes, so it’s less likely to be delayed or canceled.
FACTORS THAT AFFECT AIR SHIPPING
Like all shipping methods, the supply chain of air cargo and air freight is affected by several factors. Here are the important ones.
Weight/size of item
One of the most important factors that affect air cargo and air freight is the item’s weight. That’s because the weight determines how much it’ll cost to ship. Heavier items usually cost more to ship than lighter items.
Similarly, larger items usually cost more to ship than smaller items because they take up more space on the plane. And if an item doesn’t fit in the luggage hold, it’ll need to be shipped by air freight.
Distance to the destination:
The destination’s distance from the point of origin also affects air cargo and air freight. The further away the destination is, the more expensive it’ll be to import and export the item(s).
This is because planes need to carry more fuel when flying long distances, increasing the shipping cost.
Time of year:
The time of year also affects the management system of air cargo or air freight. There are busy times and slow times for both.
For example, Christmas is a very busy time for air cargo and air freight experts because there’s a lot of last-minute shopping.
Please contact Airport Cargo to be more further information
Read more:
Advanced Knowledge of Air Freight – (airportcargo.vn)
