GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 16, 2026
Air freight transport
Integrators such as FedEx or DHL, network airlines, and specialist freight forwarders all operate within air freight transport – the commercial movement of goods by aircraft from origin acceptance to final delivery.
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Source: https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/
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Definition & Explanation
Integrators such as FedEx or DHL, network airlines, and specialist freight forwarders all operate within air freight transport – the commercial movement of goods by aircraft from origin acceptance to final delivery. The process spans IATA-compliant packaging and labelling, export and import customs clearance, hub transshipment, and last-mile distribution. Intercontinental transit times of one to a few days make this mode indispensable for pharmaceuticals, high-tech electronics, automotive spare parts, and perishables where delay means spoilage or lost sales. Cargo moves either on dedicated freighter aircraft or as belly cargo in the holds of passenger services. Rates per kilogram are a multiple of sea or road equivalents, so shippers reserve air freight for consignments where speed directly protects revenue or product integrity.
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