Air Freight

Air Freight refers to the transportation costs incurred when goods are transported by air from the airport of departure to the airport of destination. It is typically suitable for high-value, time-sensitive, small-volume, or lightweight goods, such as electronic products, samples, and urgently needed spare parts. Use cases include: emergency restocking, exhibition samples, seasonal goods, perishable goods, etc. Precautions: Air freight is usually calculated based on chargeable weight (the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight). The volumetric weight formula is length × width × height (cm) / 6000 (or 5000, depending on the airline); in addition, fuel surcharges, security surcharges, airport handling fees, etc., must also be considered. Compared with ocean freight, air freight is more expensive but faster; compared with courier services, air freight is usually for larger shipments and requires the cargo owner to handle customs clearance and pick-up themselves. Foreign trade practitioners should accurately calculate air freight to avoid cost overruns caused by volumetric weight, and clearly specify the party bearing the costs in the contract (such as the allocation under terms like FOB and CIF).