In today’s globalized world, trade plays a crucial role in economic activities. While sea shipment is known to be the most common method of transporting cargo, air shipment also holds significant importance. In this article, we will delve into the process flow for air shipment and explore its advantages and key steps involved.
The Significance of Air Shipment:
Air shipment may account for only around 10% of total cargo volume compared to sea shipments, but it has a profound impact on global economic activities. Although the cost of air shipment is higher than that of sea shipment, its biggest advantage lies in its ability to transport goods quickly. This makes it an ideal choice for industries requiring time-sensitive deliveries such as fresh food, medical products, and sensitive equipment.
Process Flow for Exporting Products via Air Shipment:
1. Cargo Dispatch Schedule: The manufacturer decides on the cargo dispatch schedule and communicates delivery times to overseas customers.
2. Freight Forwarder Selection: The exporter selects a freight forwarder who will handle the booking of flights.
3. Information Sharing: Details such as dispatch date, flight booking preferences (contents, weight), and delivery destination are provided to the freight forwarder along with necessary documents like invoices, packing lists, shipping instructions (SI).
4. Cargo Delivery: Based on flight schedules, the cargo is delivered either directly to the freight forwarder’s warehouse or a packing company situated near the airport.
5. Pre-Loading Processes: Prior to loading onto an aircraft, certain processes must take place including explosive inspections (mandatory security measure) and attaching labels called “airway bills” which provide information about flight details and destinations.
6. Packaging Requirements: For safe transportation purposes within airlines’ guidelines; wrapping cartons/pallets/wooden boxes are used before collection from warehouses.
7. Export Custom Clearance at Customs Warehouse: Once delivered to customs warehouses designated for storing overseas cargo, export custom clearance is initiated. Export permits are obtained based on invoice and packing list information submitted by the exporter using electronic data interchange (EDI) systems.
8. Cargo Consolidation: Before loading onto aircraft, cargo is consolidated onto large pallets or containers called ULDs (Unit Load Devices).
9. Cut Time: The deadline for bringing cargo into an airline, usually a few hours before flight departure to complete necessary processes before loading.
10. Loading onto Aircraft: Freight forwarders arrange transport air freight based on invoice details and issue house airway bills to exporters while receiving master airway bills from airlines. These documents provide crucial information about the shipment.
Process Flow for Importing Products via Air Shipment:
1. Arrival at Destination Country: Once flights arrive at importing countries, cargoes are unloaded into designated storage sheds.
2. Import Custom Clearance Process: Until import custom clearances are obtained, cargoes remain stored in these sheds under customs supervision.
3. Break Bulk Process: Cargoes undergo checks to ensure they haven’t been damaged during transfer and that quantities match original documentation.
4. Arrival Notice & Import Custom Clearance Agency Involvement: After receiving arrival notices from airlines, local freight forwarders or designated customs clearance agencies process import custom clearances using the required documentation provided by exporting freight forwarders through EDI systems.
5. Truck Delivery as Domestic Cargo: Once import authorization is issued, cargoes are loaded onto trucks as domestic cargo from bonded areas and delivered to their respective destinations mentioned in documentation.
Conclusion:
Understanding the process flow of air shipment is essential when dealing with international logistics operations involving time-sensitive deliveries or specific goods like fresh foods and medical products that require appropriate environmental conditions during transportation.
The collaboration between various departments within freight forwarding companies plays a vital role in ensuring accuracy and speed throughout the entire process flow of air shipments.
As technological advancements continue to streamline logistics operations worldwide, it becomes increasingly important for professionals to stay updated with the latest developments and practices in air shipment. By doing so, they can effectively contribute to the smooth transportation of goods worldwide.
