Fairly young, at under a hundred years as a shipping method, air cargo has advanced rapidly to become a vital link in the global logistics chain. Flying your stocks in and out has definite advantages over other forms of shipment. There are a few disadvantages such as cost, but overall air cargo can be a boon for businesses. We are breaking down these benefits below so that you can get a better idea of what you can expect when using air freight. Some trial and error is to be expected when organizing shipping for the first time, but these tips should help ease the process quite a bit. Add to Cart helps arrange, ship, inspect, and get our clients affordable rates for air shipping samples or your entire order. Ask for a quote for your next air shipment needs.

Speed

Flying is undoubtedly the fastest method of transport available. If you need to get your items shipped out pronto, air cargo is your best option. With the speed of delivery, your opportunity for fulfilling a greater number of orders also increases. You will need to factor in all the airport checks and other requirements for air cargo and not just the flight time, but once you get the hang of it you will find that air freight is super fast, if you are willing to pay a premium for it, of course.

Safety

Flying is still the safest way to travel, and this applies to your precious cargo as well. First of all, the threat of shipment hijacking is greatly reduced for goods that are transported by air as compared to on the ground. Second, there are also no issues like detours and traffic which can increase your risk. Generally speaking, the more direct the route, the less you have to worry about something going wrong.

Air travel is highly regulated and points of entry and departure tightly secured. Your cargo benefits from this as theft and damage risks are reduced. Moreover, since the cargo goes straight from one point to the next without much turning to the left and right, there is less handling involved during transit, further reducing the risk of theft and damage. You can even comfortably accompany your cargo if you so desire when you ship it by air since some services are equipped to take on passengers.

Finally, air travel is less susceptible to bad weather. Airports will shut down under severe weather conditions, but you can be sure that conditions are worse on roadways and sea routes.

Convenience

Air travel is so highly regulated and dependent on accurate schedules that it can offer the most reliable arrival and departure times. Plus, as more and more people prefer air travel over land or sea travel, there are numerous flights available, sometimes one every hour. Such delays are not as common as you can expect on land or sea, so even if you do experience a cancelled flight, you can still be sure that your cargo will arrive faster than if you had opted for another shipping method.

The ability to track your cargo is an important factor in making sure that your inventory moves efficiently. Air cargo has the most efficient and convenient tracking system, sometimes even allowing you to log in to a website to see where your shipment is in real time. There is no more need to call companies and wait for them to call their drivers – if there is cell service and if they answer – and call you back with updates. And you will never have to endure the inefficiencies of the radio communications that seafarers rely on, or in some cases simply have no choice but to wait patiently for the ship to actually dock.

Borderless

Shipping by land is strictly limited to the extent and condition of roadway systems. Shipping by sea is less limited, but always ends where deep water meets land. Not every destination can support large cargo ships, further narrowing your options. There is also always a need to transfer cargo to a land vehicle to complete the journey. In some cases, this can mean a long trip inland, which equates to greater risks to your cargo.

Shipping by air is only limited to the number and location of open airports. Airports can be built almost anywhere on land, and as flying continues to grow in popularity, there are so many flight times and destinations to choose from. Even if a transfer to a land vehicle for the final leg of the journey is often required, the trip will be a short one. You can even do some sorting as you make this final transfer. When using land shipping to get your cargo from a ship to your city, for instance, you would normally either have a single drop off point or run the risk of damage to your items as they are driven around to different delivery stops along the way. Sorting your stocks bound for different warehouse locations at the airport either eliminates this sorting and redistribution step or reduces your risk.

Cost Balance

Air freight is the most costly of all shipment methods, but there are a few ways that you can save more when flying goods by air. First, since shipment times are much shorter by air, insurance premiums are also lower. Second, since you can time your shipments perfectly instead of allowing for week-long margins on sea cargo most especially, your warehousing costs will go down considerably when using air as your preferred method. Third, customs, inspection and handling processes for air cargo are much more efficient since it is a highly time-dependent industry. Fourth, since air freight poses the least amount of damage risk, you won’t need to waste time and spend extra money on heavy packaging to keep your items safe during transport.

As a final note, air freight is best for shipping a low volume of items that are of a high value, when you consider the costs involved. The safety of these types of items is a top priority, and paying more to ensure they arrive in good condition is a wise investment. If your shipments are either bulky or heavy, the higher costs of air freight might be insupportable. Air cargo charges go up both by space and weight, and you may also not be able to use air freight at all if regulations do not allow for the particular dimensions or weight of your cargo.

If you are looking for more information on how you can improve the way you ship and store your inventory, Add to Cart Consultants is available to assist you.