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Minimum Connection Time Cargo | Freight-Academy™

MCTC

GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026

Minimum Connection Time Cargo

Minimum Connection Time Cargo (MCT Cargo) is the shortest permissible interval between a freight shipment's arrival on an inbound flight and the departure of its connecting outbound flight at a hub airport.

Quick Answer

Minimum Connection Time Cargo (MCT Cargo) is the shortest permissible interval between a freight shipment's arrival on an inbound flight and the departure of its connecting outbound flight at a hub…

The window must accommodate offloading, customs examination, sorting, re-consolidation, and transfer to the departing aircraft.

Carriers and freight forwarders consult published MCT Cargo values when routing shipments via intermediate hubs; a connection that falls short of the minimum results in the cargo being held over for…

Last updated: 26 June 2026Published: 27 January 2026

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_connection_time

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Minimum Connection Time Cargo

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Definition & Explanation

Minimum Connection Time Cargo (MCT Cargo) is the shortest permissible interval between a freight shipment's arrival on an inbound flight and the departure of its connecting outbound flight at a hub airport. The window must accommodate offloading, customs examination, sorting, re-consolidation, and transfer to the departing aircraft. Carriers and freight forwarders consult published MCT Cargo values when routing shipments via intermediate hubs; a connection that falls short of the minimum results in the cargo being held over for the next available flight. MCT Cargo windows are generally longer than their passenger equivalents, reflecting the additional time required for physical handling and regulatory clearance.

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Recommended format: Source: Freight Academy – Minimum Connection Time Cargo (https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/minimum-connection-time-cargo), accessed 2026-09-14
APA style: Freight Academy Editorial Team. (2026). Minimum Connection Time Cargo. Freight Academy. https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/minimum-connection-time-cargo
BibTeX: @misc{minimumconnectiontime2026, title = {Minimum Connection Time Cargo}, author = {{Freight Academy Editorial Team}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/minimum-connection-time-cargo}, note = {Freight Academy, accessed 2026-09-14} }

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