International Air Freight

International air freight is the transport of cargo between countries by aircraft, either in the belly of passenger flights or on dedicated freighters. It is usually booked airport to airport, with trucks moving the freight to the departure airport and from the arrival airport to the receiver. International air freight suits shipments that are urgent, high in value or perishable, and it handles pallets, crates and heavier pieces that express parcel services cannot. Shipments must meet security screening rules, export and import customs requirements, and dangerous goods regulations, so documentation and planning are as important as the flight itself.

Chargeable weight is the weight an airline uses to price a shipment, and it is the greater of the actual gross weight and the volume weight. Volume weight, also called dimensional weight, is calculated by multiplying the length, width and height of each piece in centimeters and dividing by 6,000 to get kilograms. A light but bulky shipment can therefore be charged on its size rather than its weight. Accurate measurements, compact packaging and stackable pallets help keep chargeable weight down. Shippers should measure every piece, because estimated dimensions often lead to a higher charge or a corrected invoice.

International express is a door-to-door service for small packages and documents, handled by a single network from pickup to delivery, usually with customs clearance included. It suits lighter shipments where convenience and speed matter more than cost per kilogram. International air freight is booked for pallets, crates and heavier cargo, usually airport to airport, with separate trucking at each end and customs handled by a broker. Air freight is generally more economical for larger shipments, while express is simpler for small boxes. Very urgent or oversized freight may need a hand carry or a charter instead.

An air waybill, or AWB, is the transport document for an air shipment. It serves as the contract of carriage between the shipper and the airline and as a receipt for the goods. It lists the shipper, consignee, airports of departure and destination, number of pieces, weight, description of goods and handling information. Each air waybill has a unique number used to track the shipment. Unlike an ocean bill of lading, an air waybill is not a document of title, so the goods are released to the named consignee rather than to whoever holds the paper.

A master air waybill, or MAWB, is issued by the airline for a shipment it carries, and it covers the cargo tendered to the airline as one unit. A house air waybill, or HAWB, is issued by a consolidator or logistics provider to each individual shipper whose goods are combined into that master shipment. In a consolidated shipment, many house air waybills sit under one master. The master governs the relationship with the airline, while each house waybill governs the relationship with an individual shipper. Shipments sent directly with an airline may only have a master air waybill.

EEI stands for Electronic Export Information, the export data filed with the U.S. government through the Automated Export System, or AES. It reports details about an export, such as the parties, the commodity classification, the value and the destination. EEI is generally required for exports valued over a set threshold per commodity classification and for shipments that need an export license, regardless of value. The filing produces an internal transaction number that is shown on the shipping documents. Missing or incorrect EEI can delay acceptance at the airport and lead to penalties, so it should be filed before the freight is tendered.

A certificate of origin is a document that states the country where the goods were manufactured or produced. Many importing countries require it to determine which duties apply, whether the goods qualify for a trade agreement's reduced rates, or whether any import restrictions apply. Certificates of origin are often issued or certified by a chamber of commerce, and some trade agreements accept a certification completed by the exporter or producer. Requirements differ by destination country and product. Missing or incorrect certificates can delay customs clearance or lead to higher duties, so shippers should confirm what the destination needs before the freight departs.

A customs broker is a licensed professional or company that prepares and files the documents needed to clear goods through customs on behalf of an importer or exporter. The broker classifies the goods under the tariff schedule, calculates duties and taxes, submits the entry and communicates with customs authorities. In the United States, customs brokers are licensed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Using a broker is common for international air freight, because accurate classification and complete documents determine how quickly freight is released after it lands. Brokers do not usually move the freight; they handle the clearance paperwork.

Dangerous goods are items that can pose a risk to health, safety, property or the environment when carried by air. They include lithium batteries, flammable liquids, gases, corrosives, magnetized materials, some chemicals and certain medical or industrial products. Dangerous goods can often still fly, but they must be classified, packed, marked and labeled according to international air transport rules and declared on a shipper's declaration. Some items are allowed only on cargo aircraft, and some are forbidden entirely. Undeclared dangerous goods can lead to rejected shipments, delays and penalties, so shippers should check their items before booking.

A cargo cutoff time is the latest time freight can be delivered to an airline's cargo terminal and still be loaded on a specific flight. It allows time for acceptance, security screening, document checks and building the shipment onto the aircraft. Cutoffs are often several hours before departure for international flights and can be earlier for dangerous goods or oversized pieces. Freight that arrives after the cutoff is moved to a later flight, which can mean a delay of a day or more on lanes with limited service. Planning the truck leg to the airport around the cutoff protects the booking.