International Air Freight Cargo Shipping Made Simple

Air forwarding is the process of organizing and coordinating the shipment of goods by air transportation. It is handled by air freight forwarders or logistics companies specializing in air freight service, liaising with airlines, customs, and other agents. Air forwarding includes the following tasks:

• Managing the movement of cargo from its origin to its destination


• Arranging the required documentation


• Handling customs clearance


• Handling transportation details to ensure efficient delivery

Air freight forwarding is used for time-sensitive or high-value items. This is because air freight has faster delivery times and stricter processes that can guarantee cargo security. Availing of an air freight forwarding service helps shippers ensure that goods are shipped promptly and securely.

Air freight is the fastest and most secure way to transport goods overseas. It reduces handling times with a quick shipping process that can be completed in a few days. Moreover, air freight can safeguard fragile and valuable items.

Because of this, it’s most commonly used to transport high-value, perishable, or time-sensitive goods. These might include electronics, luxury items, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, manufacturing components, and perishable foods. Products that need to be maintained in specific conditions during the shipping process, such as temperature-sensitive goods, are also shipped by air.

Businesses typically work with air freight companies to ship small-to-medium-sized cargo. This is because shipments with lower weight and volume don’t yield shipping costs that are too high.

Air cargo freight forwarding is a relatively simple process. It starts with the shipper booking and preparing the shipment. This includes packaging the goods and preparing the required documentation.

When the goods are ready, the air freight forwarder arranges for them to be picked up. If needed, they will also handle consolidation. Afterward, the goods will be transported to the departure airport.

When the cargo arrives at the airport, it will undergo the customs clearance process and other airport-required procedures, such as security screening. Once cleared, the goods will be loaded onto an aircraft.

When the cargo arrives at the destination country, it is loaded and cleared through the country of destination’s customs. It is then transported to the final delivery address.

The air freight rate refers to the cost of transporting goods by air. It is calculated per kilogram or cubic meter, depending on the weight and volume of the cargo. The air freight rate can be influenced by various factors. These include the distance it needs to travel, the type of cargo shipped, the dimensions of the cargo, and whether it has special handling requirements.

In addition to these factors, air freight rates can also change depending on seasonality, demand, and fuel prices. If you opt for express shipments over standard and expedited services, the shipment can cost more.

If you need a quote before shipping, freight forwarders can provide you with one to allow you to estimate your costs.

Air freight has many advantages over ocean freight. First is its speed. As the fastest mode of international shipping, air freight can get goods to their destination in a matter of days. This makes it ideal for shipping urgent or time-sensitive goods.

It’s also the most secure way to transport cargo. Strict airport protocols and processes are in place to minimize handling and reduce the risk of theft or damage. This is why shippers of high-value goods often opt for air freight.

Air freight provides shippers with access to a vast range of global networks. It can ship goods to any country or destination with an airport. It’s also highly reliable, boasting frequent flights and flexible shipping schedules, making it favorable for supply chains.

An air freight forwarding company has three primary roles:

• Managing logistics


• Handling documentation


• Ensuring regulatory compliance

When a shipment is ordered, we first coordinate with the necessary parties to arrange transportation and optimize routes and schedules. These parties may include airlines, shippers, and consignees.

Afterward, they prepare the necessary documentation for the shipment, including air waybills, invoices, customs forms, etc. This ensures the smooth clearance of the goods from origin to destination.

Air freight forwarders are in charge of ensuring the shipment’s compliance with international shipping regulations. They make sure that security protocols and customs requirements are met to guarantee fast and reliable shipping.

Air freight is generally more expensive than ocean freight because of higher demand, customs fees, and faster and more secure shipping. However, there are situations when air freight costs are negligible, such as when shipping small goods in small quantities.

Air freight is known to have stringent security measures, making it suitable for shipping low-volume, high-value goods. Because of its speed, air freight also minimizes opportunities for security to be compromised and lowers the risk of damage to the cargo.

Air freight is sought-after because of its quick transit times, able to get your cargo from point A to point B in only a couple of days. On top of that, it’s also quite flexible, allowing cargo to be loaded in both freighters and passenger aircraft.

However, air freight transit times can be affected by timeframes involved in loading and unloading, airport discharge, and customs processing.

To ensure you get the most value out of your shipment, you must know the costs of air freight shipping. Air freight quotes will typically cover the following rates and charges:

• Base freight rate: The actual cost of shipping your goods based on volumetric weight


• Fuel surcharge: Compensates the carrier for fluctuating fuel costs


• Security fee: Cost of security screening for the cargo


• Terminal handling charges: Cost for handling and moving goods in the airport terminal


• Customs clearance fees: Included for goods for door-to-door shipping


• Cargo insurance fees: Payment to protect goods from loss or damage during transit


• Trucking fees: Cost to transport cargo to terminals, airports, and other destinations in door-to-door, door-to-airport, or airport-to-door shipping


• Container freight station fee: Cost of temporarily storing cargo in the airport

Air freight may be expensive, but the good news is that you can reduce your shipping costs by doing the following:

• Choose to ship with iContainers: We help you find rates that give you value for your money and minimize the shipping cost. Through our platform, you can compare carrier quotes and choose the one that fits your budget.


• Package goods compactly: Decrease the dimensions of your cargo to reduce volumetric weight and, ultimately, minimize shipping costs.


• Use iContainers’ compliance engine:Our technology will help you complete documents accurately to reduce the risk of extra charges and delays in the shipping process.

iContainers offers traditional freight forwarding services but with the convenience of modern technology. We are a digital-first freight forwarder that allows you to easily manage your entire shipment from your device. This helps you ship with more efficiency and less complexity.

Shipping by air with iContainers is simple. From requesting quotes, booking your shipment, or settling your payments to tracking your cargo and ensuring compliance with shipping requirements, you can get your goods to your destination with ease and confidence.

iContainers is a subsidiary of Agility Logistics, allowing us to access our parent company’s global logistics network. This enables us to provide reliable and competitive technology-oriented services to our customers. Every shipment managed by iContainers is backed by logistics efforts and a globally trusted freight network.