Air Freight Transportation

The development of a truly global marketplace requires an air freight forwarder to move freight by air across multiple routes nationwide and worldwide. Air transport provides the fastest delivery. Despite the shipping route optimization, there is still no match to the speed of air freight. Air freight is a hands-down faster mode as compared to sea shipping. In very rough estimates, it takes 20 to 45 days to complete ocean shipping. Air freight typically takes 1 to 2 days.

However, before sending everything by air, explore our expert strategies to plan your freight. Using an air forwarder to ship your cargo allows for a shorter timetable compared to the sea freight forwarder. It is particularly useful when shipping fresh produce. The price for faster service however implies much higher air freight rates. That’s on you to select the right means of transportation, and we are here to provide any professional assistance you require.

Companies shipping overseas or importing must consider 3 main factors when opting between sea freight vs air freight.

1. Time of transit: how quickly you need to deliver your cargo.
2. Cost: which shipping mode will be the most cost-effective for your business? The cost consists of many elements, like all transportation charges (overland and sea or air), product original price, taxes, insurance fees, customs fees, tariffs, handling, and crating costs.
3. Product physical characteristics.

At first glance, it looks like sea freight is generally a cheaper option compared to air freight, but you must know that each mode requires a complex cost calculation. The cost of air freight is calculated through the “chargeable weight”— a size/weight combination—an amount an air carrier charges to move your shipment. In sea freight, the weight of the cargo is not typically factored in, and shipping cost is based on the number of containers.

For bulky and heavy cargoes, sea freight is overall less pricey. However, as the size of a shipment decreases, the air and sea cost margin decreases as well. Besides, bear in mind the inventory costs. Customs and warehousing fees associated with sea freight are generally higher than the airport fees.