Air cargo is the fastest way to move goods internationally, and it is often the right choice for urgent, high-value or time-sensitive shipments. Understanding how the process works helps you prepare the cargo correctly and avoid delays.
Who is involved
- Shipper: the company sending the goods.
- Freight forwarder: coordinates the booking, documents, screening and delivery to the airline.
- Airline: transports the cargo between airports.
- Ground handlers: receive, store and load the cargo at the airport.
- Customs broker and consignee: clear and receive the cargo at destination.
Step by step
- Booking. The forwarder books space with an airline based on weight, dimensions and the nature of the goods.
- Preparation. The cargo is packed, labeled and documented. Each package should show marks that match the documents.
- Security screening. Air cargo leaving the United States must meet the security requirements of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) before it is loaded.
- Delivery to the airline. The cargo is delivered to the airline’s terminal before the cut-off time.
- Flight and arrival. At destination, the cargo is unloaded, stored at the airport and released after customs clearance.
The air waybill
The air waybill (AWB) is the transport document for air cargo. When a forwarder consolidates several shipments, the airline issues a master air waybill (MAWB) and the forwarder issues a house air waybill (HAWB) for each shipper.
Unlike an ocean bill of lading, the air waybill is not a document of title. The cargo is delivered to the consignee named on it.
How chargeable weight is calculated
Airlines charge for the greater of two weights:
- Actual gross weight, including packaging.
- Volumetric weight, which reflects the space the cargo takes. It is commonly calculated as length × width × height in centimeters divided by 6,000.
Example: a box of 100 × 80 × 60 cm weighs 50 kg. Its volumetric weight is 100 × 80 × 60 ÷ 6,000 = 80 kg. The chargeable weight is 80 kg.
Compact, well-designed packaging can reduce the chargeable weight.
Dangerous goods
Batteries, chemicals, paints, aerosols and many other products are regulated as dangerous goods in air transport. They must be classified, packed, labeled and declared according to the applicable regulations. Always tell your forwarder about them before booking.
When to choose air freight
- The cargo is urgent, such as spare parts that keep an operation running.
- The goods are high value relative to their weight.
- The shipment is small and the difference in cost with ocean freight is reasonable.
How OEG Internacional can help
We coordinate air cargo bookings with airlines, the preparation of documents, delivery to the airport and the connection with customs brokers and delivery at destination.