Things You Need to Know About Air Freight Shipping

Air freight shipping is the ideal solution to transport high-value shipments on a commercial air carrier. These goods are usually imported through a logistics company and make a practical option for shipping products of all shapes and sizes. Now, to import a large number of products for organizations or individuals, these freight shipping companies, such as DHL Express arrange and gathers the shipments of those items both globally and locally. DHL freight then takes up the role of the freight shipping carrier for importing those products.

To have a complete understanding of air freight shipping, it is broken down into three different types.

Three different types of air freight shipping

Commercial or passenger planes

Several passenger planes can also carry light cargo and earn a significant amount of money by delivering air freight. The belly of the plane can hold both palletized and containerized freight. Shipping via these passenger planes results in cost-effectiveness as these commercial flights travel to numerous destinations in a day. However, the number of restrictions for such goods is higher on these flights because the freight is being shipped on a passenger plane. Many airlines check the size and weight of such shipments and even the destination in many cases.

Cargo planes

Since cargo planes are designed to carry heavier freight, they can carry a lot more goods than commercial planes can. On average, cargo planes can handle about 26,000 cubic feet of cargo. These planes are not meant for carrying passengers and have fewer restrictions as compared to commercial flights.

DHL’s freight forwarding services provide plenty of options to match your budget, delivery necessities, as well as the weight and size of your freight.

Air charters

Air charters are generally used during emergencies or dire situations. In this type of shipping method, you rent a charter plane to only take your freight to the destination you want it to go to. While this type of freight shipping is the quickest and shortest way to send your goods, it can also incur a significant amount of money. This is because your air freight forwarders don’t have layovers or external interferences in most cases.

Benefits of air freight shipping

It’s safer and secure

Air freight is the most secure and safest option for transporting sensitive goods. So, unless your flight is facing inclement weather, air cargo travel is smoother and safer than sea or truck transport. This results in fewer damages.

It’s the quickest mode of shipping

Unless the weather conditions are unfavorable, air freight is the quickest mode of shipment. In air freight shipping, you have the option to get your shipment at the location you want it to be, including same-day service. It also helps deliver time-sensitive shipments without any delays.

It’s cost-effective

Initially, air freight shipping may appear to be expensive, but there are many factors that make it cost-effective.

• Air freight does not need heavy packaging or the need to be stored in a container.
• The packing costs are lower and container rental isn’t required.
• There is reduced overhead with air freight shipping.
• Since your freight gets expedited, it eliminates the need to warehouse or store it.

It’s accurate

Freight shipping is accurate. That’s because flights depart and directly arrive at the destinations at their set times. There’s no midway stopping to browse a tourist spot. Therefore, it’s easy to check the status of your freight. And since you’re dealing in hours instead of days, the opportunity of errors are lesser.

Things to keep in mind while using air freight

1. Social factors: The social as well as regional factors play a key role in determining the cost of air freight. Conditions such as work strikes, war, agitation, pandemics, and even terrorism activities can reduce the demand and make it costlier for air freight forwarders to work in that area.
2. Working costs: This depends on a number of factors and one important cause being the cost of fuel. If the fuel costs are low and are likely to stay low for some time, then it can majorly affect the working expenses. This cost gets reflected in the delivery rates.
3. Financial factors: Economic factors can directly impact your exports and imports. For instance, in bull economies, the interest rate for air freight shipping can exceed limits which can prompt more significant expenses. 

DHL for one makes sure that your shipment arrives safely and on time regardless of the kind of freight it is.