What is AirFreight? It is a means of transporting goods and services by air and is another term for Air Cargo. These deliveries can be undertaken by either charter or commercial airline companies on small or large aircraft and started with the first cargo flight which took off in 1910.

We have all seen the enormous container or bulk cargo ships on the horizon as they head towards their next port of call. But, do we ever think about what’s in the cargo hold of an aeroplane that we see sitting on the runway, awaiting take-off? A wide range of commodities can be transported by worldwide airfreight and, of course, the greatest advantage with this means of transport is the element of speed . Your recent parcel will have been shipped (if coming from another country) by air. Can you imagine if it came by sea? You would be waiting for weeks – if not months for your parcel to arrive!

However, Air Freight is unquestionably a more expensive option than Sea Freight because the customer is paying a premium for speed. Wherever these cargo flights are departing from and arriving to in the world, the aviation industry is extremely tightly regulated by a variety of different national and international bodies who regulate the safety standards of the aircraft, the pilots and the goods that they are carrying. There are specific restrictions, regulations and guidelines in place for the transport of dangerous goods – no bad thing when it comes to security both on the ground and in the air.

Air Freight transports goods worth in excess of US$6 trillion every year which equates to around 35% of the world’s annual trade by value . It is estimated that this is comprised of over 7 billion parcels and 328 billion letters annually. That’s a lot of stamps!! A further major contribution that this industry makes is employment : in excess of 68 million people are involved directly or indirectly with the Air Freight industry. For example, 120,00 tonnes of flowers are Air Freighted from Kenya every year. This sustains the farmers’ livelihoods and due to the speed of delivery, ensures that the blooms are still fresh when they arrive at their overseas destination.

The benefits of airfreight transportation are limitless . In addition to the aspect of speed which we have already touched upon, the shipment of goods by air makes it possible to deliver essential supplies to some of the world’s most inaccessible areas. A freight forwarder , that is, a company that receives and ships goods on behalf of companies or individuals, will make a decision as to the best means of transport for any particular job. Are the goods needed urgently ? Are they of high value ? Are they perishable ? If vaccines are needed in a remote area, they can be transported on a light aircraft or helicopter that is able to land in a confined space bringing life-saving vaccines or medication to those in need.

So, why would you choose any other means of transport when Air Freight ticks all the boxes?