Air transportation is one of the most preferred transportation methods today, as it offers fast and safe freight transfer between long distances. In this blog post, we briefly talked about how to load air freight transportation and which loads can be sent with this method.
Which Cargoes Can Be Sent By Air?
As we mentioned at the beginning of the article, air freight transport makes it possible to transport goods between long distances quickly and safely. This advantage makes this transportation method suitable for certain product groups. It is possible to list the prominent ones among these product groups as follows:
· Perishable products,
· Live animal cargoes,
· Cargoes that need to be delivered urgently,
· Dangerous goods cargoes,
High value cargoes,
· Cargoes such as living organs, stem cells…
The cargoes are divided into three categories according to their types as general cargo, special cargo and dangerous goods.
General cargo can be defined as generally dry and clean cargo that does not require a special process for transportation. Special cargo includes products that require special procedures during the transportation and/or storage process; live animals, food materials, wet cargoes are examples of this type. Dangerous goods, on the other hand, include those that may pose a safety threat if they are not properly stored and transported; Examples of these are toxic chemicals and products that can explode/burn.
How is Cargo Loading done in Air Freight Transport?
The products to be transported in airline logistics can be loaded into the vehicle in three different ways:
· Bulk Loading – Also known as Bulk Loading; It is made using moving belt systems called conveyors.
· ULD (Unit Load Device) Loading – Cargoes are loaded on standard equipment such as pallets, containers, igloos.
· Loading Passenger Baggage - Cargo loaded on passenger planes.
In aircraft with a single aisle in the cabin, the bulk method is generally preferred, while the ULD method is preferred in aircraft with a double aisle in the cabin.
In air freight transportation, containers are not used unless there is a reefer (refrigerated) in the cargo.
Airway transportation operations are carried out with the Air Way Bill of Lading (AWB) made between the sending company and the carrier company. Airway Bill of Lading is a kind of valuable document showing that the cargo has been received for transportation.
