Air freight transport is the other form of air cargo, which is the process of shipping the goods through the air carrier. The air freight transport service is one of the most valuable services when this comes to moving express shipments around the world (Bauml and Hausmann 2019). This is also an efficient option to coordinate time-sensitive shipments and can be very advantageous for all-size companies as this allows the companies to participate in international trade effectively and expeditiously. This study aims to discuss the characteristics of air freight transport, which make air shipping the most desirable form of shipment.
Air freight transportation is one of the most advanced modes of transportation. The peculiar characteristic of air freight transport is that this transportation method does not require any particular surface track for the operations (Bartle, Lutte and Leuenberger 2021). Air transportation has not any physical barriers like the other transportation model. The supreme benefit of air freight transportation transport lies in the quickness of the transportation method. Air freight transportation has several other benefits such as it provides easy access, where this service can be utilized for carrying goods to areas that are not accessible by other transportation systems (Picard 2020). This method also provides emergency services and this can operate when the other transportation system cannot be operated because of any natural calamities or any natural disasters.
Air freight transportation mode has various characteristics such as a commodity, demand of the product, distribution problems, and emergence of the global value chain. When the characteristics of the commodity are present as the significant characteristics of the air freight transportation method, this can be said that the commodity of the nature of the air freight services can be diminished as the supply of the air service, which is controlled by the financially stable airlines (Wensveen 2018). Air freight shipping commodities is one of the most desirable forms the goods supply or distribution when the commodity comprises the following characteristics:
1. Subject to the quick obsolescence
2. Perishable
3. Expensive to store or handle
4. Required on the short notice
5. Valuable relative to the weight of the good
For commodities, which are subject to quick obsolescence, perishable, or needed on short notice, the speed of the air transportation service becomes very advantageous (Wensveen 2018). However, in this case, time is very important transportation of some air cargo products for example fashion apparel, novelty items, and recordings. Air freight commodities play a vital role in the air transportation service as the standardized method and this also increases the scale effect (Reynolds-Feighan 2017).
While discussing another characteristic of air freight transportation is the demand for the product, this can be discussed that when the state of the product demand is seasonal, infrequent, unpredictable, and in excess of the local supply, air freight transportation becomes the most desirable form of transportation. When the demand fluctuates for any market reason or when the market is seasonal, the air freight allows the immediate response within any penalty of the expensive fixed overhead (Wensveen 2018). The seasonality of the demand for air freight transport may augment the bargaining position of the suppliers, where the union can choose the proper seasonal peak for the demand. Some examples of the air cargo products within these characteristics are auto parts as well as accessories, fruits, vegetables, chemicals, compounds, elements, medicines, drugs, pharmaceuticals, tools, and hardware.
Another characteristic of air freight transportation is the existence of distribution problems (Struyf, Onghena and De Langhe 2017). The air freight shipment becomes the most desirable mode of transportation than the other transportation when the distribution problems of the air freight transportation include the following factors such as:
1. High insurance cost for the long-term in-transit method
2. Risk of deterioration, breakage, or pilferage
3. Requirement for the special care or handling
4. The expensive or heavy packages needed for the surface transportation
5. Stocks or warehousing in excess of the needed air freight transportation can be used effectively
Some of the examples of air cargo products within these characteristics can be food preparations, nursery stocks, cut flowers, live animals, machines for electronic data processing and data storage, computers, and software and instrument for measuring, and controlling optical and medical.
In conclusion, this can be said that air freight transportation is the most premium service. Air freight transportation projects the image of the progressiveness of a company or a premium product. However, the overall cost associated with the air freight inventory and carrying is high, where the cost includes stock and warehouse facilities, taxes, insurance, and other related costs. Though air freight transportation cost the most, this is one of the safest and fastest modes of transportation, which is preferred by most businesses for supplying their products and goods over any other transportation mode. Because of the advantages of air freight transportation, air cargo shipment has become the most desirable form of transportation.
References for Air Freight Transport
Bartle, J.R., Lutte, R.K. and Leuenberger, D.Z., 2021. Sustainability and air freight transportation: Lessons from the global pandemic. Sustainability, 13(7), p.3738.
Bauml, M. and Hausmann, L., 2019. Air-freight forwarders move forward into a digital future. McKinsey & Company, Munich, Systematic Review.
Picard, J., 2020. International Physical Distribution Systems and the Demand for Air Freight.
Reynolds-Feighan, A.J., 2017. Air-freight logistics. In Handbook of Logistics and Supply-Chain Management. Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Struyf, E., Onghena, E. and De Langhe, K., 2017. Where rail meets air cargo: the potential of rail as an alternative to road transport in the air cargo chain.
Wensveen, J.G., 2018. Air transportation: A management perspective. Routledge.
