Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-02-14 Origin: Site
Air freight airlines specialize in transporting goods via dedicated cargo planes or passenger aircraft belly space. They fall into three categories:
Integrators (e.g., FedEx, DHL): Offer door-to-door logistics, including express air freight for urgent parcels.
All-Cargo Carriers (e.g., Cargolux, Atlas Air): Operate freighters like Boeing 747-8Fs for heavy machinery and oversized cargo.
Passenger Airlines (e.g., Emirates SkyCargo, Lufthansa Cargo): Use spare cargo space in passenger planes for smaller shipments.
Standard air freight (3–7 days).
Express air freight (1–3 days).
Charter flights for project cargo.
Ship from Shanghai to Los Angeles in 14 hours vs. 30+ days by sea.
Critical for industries like automotive, where a delayed part can halt production.
Serve remote regions via hubs like Dubai (Emirates) or Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific).
Example: A Kenyan flower farm uses Qatar Airways to deliver roses to Amsterdam daily.
Guaranteed schedules for time-sensitive shipments, such as air freight from China during peak manufacturing seasons.
| Airline | Key Route | Specialization |
| FedEx Express | Shanghai (PVG) to Memphis (MEM) | E-commerce, small parcels. |
| DHL Aviation | Frankfurt (FRA) to Singapore (SIN) | Cross-border **express air freight**. |
| Cargolux | Luxembourg (LUX) to Zhengzhou (CGO) | Oversized machinery. |
| Emirates SkyCargo | Dubai (DXB) to São Paulo (GRU) | Perishables, luxury goods. |
| Cathay Pacific Cargo | Hong Kong (HKG) to Los Angeles (LAX) | Pharma, electronics. |
| Qatar Airways Cargo | Doha (DOH) to Miami (MIA) | Temperature-controlled shipments. |
| Korean Air Cargo | Seoul (ICN) to Chicago (ORD) | Semiconductor components. |
| Atlas Air | Global charters | Heavy machinery, disaster relief. |
| Lufthansa Cargo | Frankfurt (FRA) to New York (JFK) | Automotive parts. |
| Singapore Airlines Cargo | Singapore (SIN) to London (LHR) | Pharma, high-value goods. |
Work with air freight brokers to reserve space and consolidate shipments.
Example: A Shenzhen-based exporter uses Flexport to bundle goods with other shippers, cutting costs by 20%.
Freighters like the Boeing 777F carry up to 102 tons of cargo.
Belly cargo in passenger planes (e.g., Emirates A380s) handles smaller loads.
Pre-clear shipments using AI tools like Descartes’ **CustomsInfo**.
Partner with local carriers (e.g., FedEx Ground) for doorstep delivery.
Asia to USA: $4–$10/kg (direct flights).
Europe to USA: $3–$8/kg (consolidated shipments).
Fuel Surcharges: Fluctuate with oil prices (currently $85/barrel).
Peak Seasons: Rates spike 25% during Q4 holidays and Chinese New Year.
Cargo Type: Hazardous goods cost 15–20% more.
Use platforms like Xeneta to compare air freight rates per kg across carriers.
For **air freight from China**, choose Cathay Pacific or FedEx for daily Asia-US flights.
Emirates SkyCargo for perishables; Cargolux for machinery.
Balance air freight rates per kg with reliability (e.g., DHL’s 99% on-time rate).
Opt for Lufthansa Cargo’s SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) program.
Ensure 24/7 tracking (e.g., UPS’s Quantum View).
| Challenge | Solution |
| Capacity Shortages | Book 6–8 weeks ahead via **air freight brokers**. |
| Regulatory Hurdles | Partner with AEO-certified forwarders. |
| Hidden Fees | Demand line-item quotes to avoid surprises. |
| Factor | Air Freight Airlines | Ocean Freight | Express Air Freight |
| Speed | 2–5 days | 20–45 days | 1–3 days |
| Cost | $$3$$12/kg | $$0.50$$2/kg | $$8$$20/kg |
| Best For | Urgent, heavy cargo | Bulk commodities | Small, time-critical parcels |
