GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 16, 2026
Air Freight Services
Unlike the flight operation itself, air freight services cover the complete logistics chain for cargo transport by air: booking and rating, pickup from the shipper, airport handling, interim storage, customs clearance, and final delivery to the consignee.
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Source: https://www.iata.org/contentassets/9efac6bfdae14fcca8cef96ab96deeca/cargo-glossary-english.pdf
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Logistics Concept
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Definition & Explanation
Unlike the flight operation itself, air freight services cover the complete logistics chain for cargo transport by air: booking and rating, pickup from the shipper, airport handling, interim storage, customs clearance, and final delivery to the consignee. Every shipment is documented under an air waybill (AWB), which serves as the contract of carriage and primary transport document. Forwarders routinely coordinate multimodal moves—road transport to the departure airport, the air leg, and onward ground delivery. Compared to sea and road freight, air offers superior speed on intercontinental routes, at significantly higher rates per kilogram. Core commodity groups include pharmaceuticals, electronics, perishables, and time-critical spare parts.
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