What you should know about air cargo

Published: Wednesday, 23 August 2023

Air cargo explained

The world would be a very different place without air transport. While over seven billion passengers take scheduled flights every single year, planes are also used to transport air cargo. In fact, it’s not uncommon for freight forwarding and logistics services to move around over 62 million tons of cargo a year. So, without delay, let’s check out some more fun facts you need to know about this industry.

Air cargo dates back to 1910

The Wright brothers successfully flew their first powered plane on December 17, 1903. Just seven years later, planes were being used to transport goods around the globe. The first cargo flight took place on 7 November 1910 in the USA, between Dayton and Columbus, Ohio. Philip Orin Parmelee piloted a Wright Model B plane, carrying a package of 200 pounds of silk for the opening of a store. Even though the distance between the two destinations wasn’t much, it took over an hour for the freight to touch down safely. The first international Air Mail flight took off one year later in 1911, between India and the United Kingdom.

Today, freight forwarding services have advanced considerably, with all kinds of cargo being timely and sensitively delivered to industries all over the world. Services are tailored to the needs of each business, taking into account timescales and specific instructions.

Hong Kong is the busiest international air cargo airport

Hong Kong International is the world’s busiest air cargo hub, having processed around 4.2 million metric tonnes of cargo, which is around 8 percent of the total annual volume. Hong Kong is slightly ahead of Memphis International Airport which has handled an impressive 4,042,679 metric tonnes. Hong Kong International has three dedicated cargo terminals that offer approximately 5,000 square metres of dedicated cold room storage.

There are different types of freight forwarding

Transporting cargo by air is a complex process organised by time-critical logistic specialists who understand the demands of each assignment. Companies offer many different freight forwarding services to suit client requirements. For example, freight can be forwarded on special cargo planes or be placed in the cargo hold of dedicated passenger planes.

Charter flights are also available. This is a tailored service that’s perfectly customised to cater for specific transport needs. It is an unscheduled flight that is not part of a regular airline route, giving you much more flexibility regarding the weight, size and delivery locations of the cargo. Chartered flights are often used in emergencies, such as delivering vital medical supplies to remote locations.

There are also on board courier services. These help to move small packages and documents on scheduled flights and is one of the fastest and safest modes of cargo transportation. A hand carrier will literally sit on the flight with your package and deliver it to your door.

With so many demands to take care of and cargo rules differing from country to country, global logistics solutions are necessary. Freight forwarders and cargo handlers need to have an in-depth knowledge of international trade law, customs services and procedures, important duty, insurance requirements and so much more. Done well, freight forwarding is an indispensable tool for international companies.