Today, online shopping is preferred by a lot of consumers. With the click of a button, you can have a new outfit, furniture, or car. It’s extremely convenient and you can expect to receive your items in a few days.
The only downfall is that you have to wait a while before your items arrive. The waiting game is no fun especially when you’re excited about your new purchase. But have you ever stopped to think about what all goes into the process of delivering your packages?
If so, keep reading to learn about the ins and outs of air freight.
What Is Air Freight?
Air freight is a fast and efficient system that involves transferring and shipping goods via air transportation. It’s a very straightforward process that involves coordination between the carrier and the airline.
Once the carrier begins the shipping process, it schedules for the goods to be picked up and placed on a plane. From there, the item gets sent to its destination airport, where it is then picked up by a carrier and delivered.
This is not a new concept, and its roots trace back as early as 1910. Air freight transportation began when Philip Parmelee transported 200 pounds of silk from Dayton to Columbus, Ohio for a store opening.
Today, it’s a great tool to help businesses reach a more global audience.
Types of Air Freight
Although the process of air freight transportation remains the same, there are different types available. Much like traditional flights, items can travel both domestically and internationally.
The only difference between the two, despite destination wise, is that international items must go through customs and requires certain documentation.
Flight Options
Believe it or not, there are several transportation options available for sending items.
Depending on their size, some packages may be sent via commercial flights or on passenger planes. This means that they will be on the same flight with actual people and stored in the plane’s cargo area.
There’s also a specific type of aircraft for moving freight. It’s known as cargo aircraft or the Boeing 747-400 and it can hold approximately 26,000 cubic feet of freight. These planes are subject to less security and can transport a larger variety of packages, including hazardous ones.
Lastly, items may get sent via air charter services if there’s a tight deadline that’s nearing. Through this process, packages get sent directly to their destination and are the only items on the plane. This is the quickest option available and is largely used in high stakes industries such as entertainment and sports.
How Are the Costs Created?
Although convenient, air freight is not always a cheap option. Consumers have complained about expensive shipping prices which causes people to wonder how the industry comes up with these figures.
It turns out that the costs are determined by an equation that calculates the volumetric weight by multiplying the package’s volume in cubic meters by 167. This decides whether or not the price will be based on the volume of the item’s actual weight or the volumetric weight.
After finding these numbers, the price is then determined by the weight that costs more.
Read More: The Six Inevitable Advantages Of Using Air Freight Services
Now You Know How Air Freight Works
Air freight is an innovative way to transport goods and it continues to improve over time. We hope that our facts about air freight answered any questions that you may’ve had and that the next time you’re waiting for your package to arrive, you understand just what goes into making it happen.
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