Requirements for Shipping Via Airfreight

Sending cargo via international airfreight can sometimes seem tricky since the amount of time to get everything together is so much shorter than an ocean freight shipment. Using a freight forwarder is always helpful in these types of shipments because they have been through it many times and can help everything run through the process smoothly. While the time is certainly less, the requirements are very similar to an ocean freight shipment. Usually the only documents needed besides the airway bill will be commercial invoices, packing lists and depending on the countries involved, a certificate of origin may also be required. In order to air freight a shipment though, the chargeable weight must be determined as well. This can be calculated ahead to estimate costs, but the airline will calculate once the cargo is in so that an accurate amount is used for billing. Otherwise, as long as the cargo being air freighted is within the dimensions of a standard airfreight container, 8’5”x7’3”x5’1” there should not be much of an issue. Once the documentation is finished and sent to the consignee and as long as the freight is secured and packaged or palletized properly and is within the dimensions booked there should be little cause for concern. No matter where the airfreight is coming from or going to, there are thousands of professionals that are doing this every day to make these shipments arrive safely at their destinations. Keeping these requirements in mind, air freight can be a great way to move international cargo.