Air freight vs. air charter vs. on board courier

Published: Wednesday, 13 September 2023

Understanding the differences         

Thanks to global freight solutions, transporting goods from country to country has become the norm. Today, international companies can hire freight forwarding services to deliver cargo by air in the safest, most practical way possible. Air cargo comes in all different shapes and sizes and with many different options to choose from, you might be wondering – what’s the difference between air freight vs. air charter vs. on board courier? So, let’s take a closer look.

What are air freight services?

Firstly, air freight services are carried out by time-critical logistic specialists, such as Priority Freight, who understand the international trade laws, customs services, important duty and insurance requirements of the countries they operate within.

Air freight services require meticulous organisation and are used to transport cargo over borders and across seas. It’s the fastest form of cargo transportation and is a top option for industries requiring fast, efficient deliveries of international products. Air cargo can be transported either in the hold of scheduled passenger flights or via special freighter flights that have been stripped of passenger seats and are designed to carry the maximum amount of cargo safely. Open communication with clients allows air freight companies to find the best possible route and to arrange appropriate bookings. At Priority Freight, we always put our customers first, providing trackable freight services that tick all boxes.

What are air charter services?

Air charter services are slightly different to regular air freight services. This is because clients have the opportunity to exclusively rent an aircraft to transport goods and will not be required to share the cargo space with other senders. Air charter is designed for companies that require urgent shipping, have critical goods such as time-sensitive medical supplies to deliver, or need to ship to a remote location that’s not typically covered by standard freight planes. Chartered flights give businesses, governments and NGOs more control over their cargo and help to avoid restrictions and delays as minimal stops are made and routes tend to be much more direct.

To reduce costs, it’s also possible to pay for a split charter meaning you may share the plane with another sender. Freight forwarding companies can tap into their network of client requirements and flight routes to find the most appropriate arrangements.

What is an on board courier?

Sometimes, it’s necessary to transport confidential documents, dangerous chemicals, approved medical items or other fragile and important products overseas. Popping them in the hold or on a freight plane with lots of other cargo isn’t always an option, which is why on board courier services are used. With this, a courier will sit with your package on the plane and personally deliver it to your chosen recipient at your chosen destination. This allows for optimum safety and security. As with most freight services these days, you can also track your item and get alerts when it’s been delivered for ultimate peace of mind.

Flights that prioritise on board couriers tend to be direct to avoid unnecessary stops or border complications. This adds another level of security to the travel process. Due to the more tailored nature of both charter and onboard courier services, they do tend to be slightly more expensive than a regular air freight operation.

Air cargo solutions are undoubtedly beneficial in today’s fast-paced world. It’s all about finding a solution that works for you and at Priority Freight, we offer a great range of freight services that can be tailored to your needs.