Air Freight Transportation Companies

Each airline independently determines the terms and conditions for cargo transportation, specifying requirements regarding shipments. For international routes, air transport companies are prohibited from carrying weapons, narcotics, and biologically active substances. Aside from these restrictions, there are no strict limitations on other types of goods, allowing shippers to choose the best option based on price and product requirements:

• Low-volume cargo, such as mail and documents.
• Lightweight and medium-tonnage cargo, including goods and materials.
• Spare parts and equipment for industrial and aviation use.
• Fresh produce, including vegetables, fruits, seafood, and flowers.
• Frozen products, such as meat, fish, and ice cream.
• Medicines and pharmaceuticals that require special storage and transportation conditions.
• Hazardous materials, such as chemicals and substances prone to explosion or combustion.
• Live animals, including pets and livestock.
• Passenger baggage.

Note that certain types of cargo may be restricted by law, airline regulations, or specific safety requirements.

Depending on the transportation conditions, air cargo shipments can be classified as follows:

• General — goods belonging to a single customer are delivered directly to a specific destination via a dedicated flight.
• Regular — transported using scheduled flights.
• Hitchhiking — both cargo and passenger aircraft are used, traveling to a specified destination.
• Shuttle — delivered in one direction, with the plane returning empty.
• Consolidated — multiple shipments for different consignees are placed on the same aircraft, with a common delivery point.

Air cargo delivery by transport companies also varies based on the type of flight and can include:

• Scheduled or unscheduled. Flights operate according to a set schedule or are arranged specifically for a particular order.
• Charter. A plane is rented for cargo delivery along a specific route.
• Cargo (using specialized transport). Used for oversized or bulky goods.
• Cargo flights (Freighter). Specialized cargo planes designed exclusively for transporting goods. These flights are used for large volumes of cargo, including oversized items that cannot be transported on passenger flights.

Air transport delivery can be either regional (within one country) or international.

What happens after you hand over your goods? Moving items from point A to point B involves several stages.

To ensure sufficient cargo capacity, some freight forwarders enter into Block Space Agreements (BSA) with partner companies. This means they purchase a pre-arranged amount of space or capacity for cargo on an airline’s flights.

• Pickup, road transport, and storage. After collecting the goods at the origin, the forwarder transports them to an export warehouse or airport warehouse. Here, the cargo is inspected, weighed, and measured.
• Export formalities and booking confirmation. The company reserves space with the airline. To confirm the booking, the forwarder or agent prepares and submits all necessary documentation to the airline.
• Preparation for the flight. Your forwarder consolidates the cargo into Unit Load Devices (ULDs) — containers used for transporting air freight. Some items may not fit into ULDs and are instead scanned and handled as "loose" cargo.
• Ready for takeoff. The forwarder delivers the ULDs and loose cargo to the airport's cargo terminal, where the airline transfers them to the aircraft for loading and preparation for takeoff.
• Inspection and unloading. After the flight lands, the airline inspects and unloads the cargo at the airport's cargo terminal. The forwarder retrieves the ULDs and loose cargo from this terminal and transports them to an import warehouse. For international shipments, this warehouse is usually under customs bond.
• Customs clearance and delivery. If your goods have not been pre-cleared by customs, your forwarder can arrange customs clearance on your behalf. Once customs authorities complete the clearance process, your forwarder either delivers the goods directly or ensures their distribution for the final leg of the journey.

Air freight is fast and secure, as the likelihood of an aircraft accident is significantly lower compared to, for example, a road accident. Moreover, air cargo allows goods to be delivered to destinations that are inaccessible by land or water. Thus, using air transport for shipping offers the following advantages:

• High delivery speed — with speeds of no less than 750 km/h.
• Global reach — a wide range of routes to virtually any country.
• Real-time tracking — the ability to easily monitor cargo movement in real time.
• Secure delivery — minimized risks and enhanced safety for goods.
• Specialized delivery — flights to areas where ground transportation is not feasible.
• Customs control optimization — streamlined processes and reduced processing times.

A well-thought-out choice of an air freight transportation company can help minimize costs through efficient logistics and the use of optimal flights tailored to the specific needs of the shipper.

However, air cargo transportation also has its drawbacks. Among them are high transportation and logistics costs. There are also certain restrictions on the size and weight of goods transported by air, and some types of cargo are prohibited from being onboard. Additionally, the tariff set by the airline may be influenced by the need for additional packaging.

When choosing an airline for cargo transportation, one of the key criteria is the cost of services. The following factors influence its formation:

• type of cargo (standard, non-standard, or oversized);
• weight;
• the need to provide special conditions (temperature control, additional packaging, etc.);
• route and flight distance.

The heavier and bulkier the items, the more expensive the delivery will be, with additional costs incurred for creating special transportation conditions. Consequently, the longer the flight duration and the greater the distance, the higher the cost of the service will be.

💡 Customers can use the functionality of a freight exchange to compare prices and find competitive rates. On the Roolz platform, you can also conduct auctions to receive offers from transportation companies and private carriers.

It is important to focus on the following criteria:

• Prompt delivery (an indicator of good logistics service performance) that guarantees transportation will be completed on time.
• Safety (packaging, securing during flight, and the ability to create additional conditions during transport) — a reliability criterion ensuring the agent safeguards the goods during delivery.
• Liability insurance — provided by the transportation company to protect against loss, damage, or theft of goods, minimizing risks for the shipper.
• 24/7 support service that coordinates the actions of the freight forwarder in case of force majeure, resolves ongoing transportation issues, and offers informational and legal support along the route.
• Your own unique requirements. Confirm whether the company can meet them while adhering to deadlines, delivery conditions, routes, etc.
• Expertise and experience. Trust companies with aviation transport experience, positive customer reviews, and an impeccable business reputation.
• Wide partner network. This indicates you are dealing not with a short-lived company but with an agent planning to remain in their chosen niche for the long term.
• Price transparency. The cost of the carrier's services should be justified and based on expenses that can be easily calculated.
• Ability to track delivery. A convenient service that allows you to always know the location of your goods.
• Individual approach. The transportation agent should select the most cost-effective, convenient, and secure delivery options for each client based on the specifics of the order.

When shipping cargo by air, the transportation company must provide the customer with the ability to track the delivery from the moment the plane takes off until it lands, and after the flight, provide a report on the condition of the goods upon arrival.

Finding a suitable partner is easy through the Roolz platform, where you can find up-to-date listings of transportation and forwarding companies specializing in air freight.