What Is Air Freight: Definition & How It Works

Air freight is the transport of goods by aircraft, whether packages, pallets, ULD containers or oversized pieces. It is the fastest mode of international transport, used by businesses to move high-value goods, urgent shipments and perishable products to virtually any point on the globe. The experts at Private Jets Connect guide you through the essentials.

This guide explores the definition of air freight in depth, its operating mechanisms, the different service types available, the pricing structure and the use cases in which it stands out as the optimal solution.

Definition of air freight

Air freight — also known as air cargo — encompasses all goods transport operations carried out by aircraft. It covers three complementary dimensions:

1. The goods themselves: any physical item transported by air, excluding passenger baggage and postal mail (although express mail is often treated as air freight).
2. The transport service: the complete logistics operation including collection, packaging, airport transport, flight, customs clearance and final delivery.
3. The economic sector: the global air freight industry, which according to IATA represents approximately 35% of international trade by value and generates over USD 100 billion in annual airline revenue.

Air freight differs from other transport modes — sea, road, rail — through its unmatched speed and ability to cover very long distances in a matter of hours. In return, its unit cost is higher, which reserves it for categories of goods where speed, security or fragility justify the investment.

How air freight works

The air freight process follows a structured logistics chain involving several specialised stakeholders.

Collection and preparation

The shipper (or their freight forwarder) hands over the goods to the freight forwarder, who takes charge of the entire journey. The goods are weighed, measured, packed according to IATA standards and labelled with the necessary tracking codes.

The chargeable weight is determined at this stage: it corresponds to the higher of the actual gross weight and the volumetric weight (calculated as L x W x H in cm / 6,000). This chargeable weight forms the basis for invoicing.

Transport to the airport

The goods are transported by road to the cargo area of the departure airport. There, the handling agent performs security screening, consolidation with other shipments if necessary, and loading into ULDs (Unit Load Devices — standardised containers and pallets for aviation).

The flight

Goods travel either as belly cargo (in the holds of passenger aircraft) or aboard dedicated freighter aircraft. Passenger belly holds account for approximately 50% of global air freight by volume. Freighters — Boeing 747F, Boeing 777F, Airbus A330F — carry the remainder, particularly for large-volume shipments or high-traffic cargo routes.

Customs clearance and delivery

Upon arrival, the goods are unloaded, cleared through customs by the consignee’s customs broker, then delivered to the final address by road transport. Customs clearance can be expedited through electronic pre-declaration, significantly reducing delays.

Types of air freight services

The air freight market offers several service tiers tailored to deadline and budget requirements.

Standard air freight

Standard freight uses the regular capacity of airlines, in passenger belly holds or on scheduled cargo flights. Door-to-door times are 3 to 7 days for international destinations. This is the most economical option for non-urgent shipments.

Express air freight

Integrators such as FedEx, DHL Express, UPS offer express freight services guaranteeing delivery within 24 to 72 hours worldwide. These services integrate collection, air transport, customs clearance and final delivery into a single offering with real-time tracking.

Charter freight

Cargo chartering involves hiring an entire aircraft for a specific shipment. This is the preferred solution for urgent, large-volume, oversized or sensitive shipments. Timelines can be reduced to a few hours. Discover charter possibilities on our cargo page.

Consolidated freight

Consolidation involves grouping shipments from multiple shippers into a single ULD or pallet. The cost is shared among the various shippers, reducing the unit price. In return, timelines are extended by the consolidation/deconsolidation process.

Air freight pricing

Air freight pricing is built on several components that combine to form the total price.

Base freight rate

The base rate is calculated on the chargeable weight, expressed in kilograms. Rates vary by route, airline, volume committed and commercial agreements between the forwarder and the carrier. IATA tariffs serve as a benchmark, but negotiated rates are generally lower.

Surcharges

Several surcharges are added to the base freight:

• Fuel Surcharge (FSC): adjusted monthly based on jet fuel prices.
• Security Surcharge (SSC): covers screening and post-9/11 security costs.
• Peak Season Surcharge (PSS): applied during periods of high demand (September to December).

Ancillary charges

Handling (airport cargo processing), documentation fees, customs duties, import VAT and transport insurance complete the invoice. These additional costs can represent 30 to 50% of the total price beyond the base freight rate.

Advantages of air freight

Air freight offers decisive advantages for certain categories of goods and logistics situations.

At Private Jets Connect, our cargo consultants recommend a structured approach to optimize every operation.

Speed. Pure air transit between two major airports lasts between 2 and 15 hours depending on distance. No other transport mode competes over distances exceeding 1,000 km.

Reliability. Airlines operate regular schedules with high punctuality rates. Air freight delivers superior predictability compared to sea freight (subject to port congestion) and long-distance road transport (affected by traffic and border delays).

Security. Screening procedures, shipment traceability and strict chain of custody reduce the risks of theft, loss and damage. The claims rate for air freight is significantly lower than for sea or road freight.

Global coverage. The worldwide air network serves over 4,000 airports in virtually every country. This connectivity enables reaching destinations inaccessible by other modes within competitive timeframes.

Limitations of air freight

Cost. Air freight is 4 to 6 times more expensive than sea freight per kilogram. This differential reserves it for high-value, urgent or perishable goods.

Limited capacity. Aircraft holds and freighters offer capacities far below container ships. A Boeing 747-400F carries approximately 113 tonnes, while a modern container ship loads 200,000 tonnes.

Carbon footprint. Air transport generates approximately 500 g of CO2 per tonne-kilometre, compared to 10-15 g for sea freight. Airlines are investing in SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuels) and carbon offset programmes, but the gap remains significant.

Restrictions. Certain goods are subject to strict limitations (hazardous materials, lithium, liquids) or prohibited in air transport. IATA’s DGR regulations strictly govern these categories.

Air freight by the numbers

Key indicators illustrate the importance of air freight in global trade:

• 35% of global trade by value moves by air.
• 61.6 million tonnes of air cargo were transported in 2023.
• The five largest cargo airports globally are Hong Kong (HKG), Memphis (MEM), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Incheon (ICN) and Anchorage (ANC).
• Air freight employs over 3 million people worldwide (pilots, ground handlers, forwarders, customs).

Conclusion

Air freight is an essential pillar of international trade, offering unmatched speed, reliability and security for the transport of high-value goods. Understanding how it works, its pricing and its use cases enables businesses to make informed logistics decisions and optimise their supply chains.

For situations requiring total flexibility — emergencies, large volumes, oversized freight — cargo chartering offers a powerful alternative to scheduled freight, with full control over timelines and transport conditions.

Private Jets Connect is ready to help you structure your cargo operation and present the best options.