AIR FREIGHT SERVICES IN HYDERABAD​

Air Freight Services

It involves the transportation of goods by air, offering a fast and efficient method for moving cargo over long distances. These services are commonly used for time-sensitive shipments, high-value goods, or when other transportation modes are impractical. Air freight services can be classified into different types based on the type of aircraft used, the delivery speed, and the service level offered.

TYPES OF AIR FREIGHT SERVICES

Dedicated Cargo Flights

Passenger Aircraft Cargo (Belly Cargo)

Charter Services

Intermodal Air Freight

Consolidated Air Freight

AIR FREIGHT SERVICES IN HYDERABAD​

Dedicated Cargo Flights:

Dedicated Cargo Flights are specialized air freight services that involve the exclusive use of aircraft designed and built specifically for transporting goods instead of passenger travel. These aircraft, commonly referred to as cargo planes or freighters, provide tailored solutions for moving large volumes of goods, oversized items, or products that require specific handling. These flights do not carry passengers and are solely focused on maximizing the payload capacity for freight.

Aircraft Design and Configuration

Unlike passenger planes, which allocate space for seating and passenger amenities, cargo planes are designed with large, open cargo holds. They feature wide fuselages, reinforced floors, and advanced loading systems, allowing for the transportation of heavy, bulky, or unusual-shaped items. Some of the unique characteristics include:

  1. Wide Cargo Doors: Cargo aircraft are equipped with larger doors (often at the front, rear, or on the side) to facilitate the easy loading and unloading of large and heavy items. The Boeing 747 freighter, for instance, has a nose door that swings open, allowing access to the entire length of the fuselage.
  2. High Payload Capacity: Dedicated cargo planes are built to carry significant weight. For example, the Boeing 747-8F can transport up to 140 metric tons (around 308,000 lbs) of cargo, making it suitable for high-volume shipments.
  3. Flexible Interior: Freighters are equipped with various securing mechanisms like pallets and containers that help ensure cargo stays secure during transport. They also feature advanced climate control systems, allowing temperature-sensitive goods to be transported safely.
  4. Unique Modifications for Cargo: Some cargo aircraft have strengthened landing gear and floors to support the transportation of heavy machinery or industrial equipment. Additionally, the use of special ramps or rollers on the floor of the cargo hold allows for the smooth movement of containers, pallets, and oversized cargo.

Types of Dedicated Cargo Aircraft

Dedicated cargo planes come in various sizes, with different capacities and specializations. Some examples of well-known freighter aircraft include:

  1. Boeing 747-8F: One of the largest and most iconic cargo planes, it is capable of carrying 140 metric tons of cargo over long distances. It is commonly used for intercontinental shipments and can carry a variety of cargo, including oversized and heavy items.
  2. Airbus A330F: A highly versatile medium-range freighter with a capacity of 65 metric tons, ideal for regional or mid-range international deliveries.
  3. Antonov An-225 Mriya: The world’s largest cargo aircraft, designed to carry up to 250 metric tons of cargo. It is often used for transporting extremely oversized cargo, such as industrial equipment or even spacecraft.
  4. Lockheed C-5 Galaxy: A military cargo aircraft often repurposed for commercial or humanitarian missions due to its ability to carry up to 140 metric tons of cargo. It features a “nose-up” door system, allowing for loading from both ends.

Advantages of Dedicated Cargo Flights

  1. Capacity and Flexibility: Cargo planes can transport goods that are simply too large or heavy for passenger aircraft. These include industrial machinery, construction equipment, vehicles, and even live animals. Due to their flexible and spacious interior, they can be configured to carry goods of various sizes.
  2. Customizable Routes: Dedicated cargo flights offer a high degree of flexibility in terms of scheduling and routing. Unlike passenger planes, which operate on fixed schedules, cargo planes can be chartered or scheduled to fly specific routes based on demand, making them highly adaptable for urgent or unique shipping requirements.
  3. Time-Sensitive and Urgent Shipments: With the capability to fly long distances without layovers, cargo planes are ideal for transporting goods that need to be delivered quickly, such as perishables, pharmaceuticals, or high-value electronics.
  4. Transportation of Dangerous Goods: Some cargo planes are specially equipped to handle hazardous materials, such as chemicals, flammable substances, or other dangerous goods that require special handling and containment procedures.
  5. Global Coverage: Dedicated cargo airlines often can reach remote or hard-to-access areas, providing global connectivity. Major cargo hubs around the world support dedicated cargo airlines, making international shipping seamless.

Industry Players in Dedicated Cargo Services

Major dedicated cargo airlines operate fleets of cargo planes, catering to both businesses and individuals who require fast and reliable freight solutions. Some leading operators include:

  • FedEx Express: Operates one of the largest fleets of cargo aircraft, including a wide range of planes such as the Boeing 777F and MD-11F. FedEx serves a global network and offers services from small packages to massive freight shipments.
  • UPS Airlines: Specializes in air freight services, operating dedicated cargo aircraft such as the Boeing 747-400F and Boeing 767. UPS offers extensive air cargo options, including next-day and international shipping.
  • DHL Aviation: Offers dedicated cargo services with its fleet of over 250 aircraft, handling both express shipments and heavier freight. DHL operates globally and serves multiple industries, including healthcare, technology, and automotive.
  • Atlas Air: A leading provider of outsourced cargo aircraft and services, Atlas Air leases planes to other carriers and operates its own global cargo network. The company’s fleet includes Boeing 747s and 777s, serving high-demand freight routes.
Best Use Cases

Dedicated cargo flights are ideal for:

  • Large, Bulky, or High-Volume Shipments: Construction machinery, automotive parts, or even aerospace components are frequently transported via dedicated cargo planes due to their size and weight.
  • Time-Critical Deliveries: When speed is paramount, dedicated cargo flights can transport goods directly and quickly, minimizing downtime for critical shipments.
  • Oversized or Unusual Shipments: Goods that cannot be broken down into smaller packages (such as wind turbine blades or industrial generators) are best suited for these services.
  • Intercontinental Logistics: Companies involved in global trade often rely on dedicated cargo flights to maintain consistent supply chains, especially in industries like technology, electronics, and pharmaceuticals.

Challenges and Considerations

  • Higher Costs: Compared to other modes of transportation, dedicated cargo flights can be expensive due to the high operational costs associated with running large aircraft and the infrastructure needed to handle such shipments.
  • Environmental Concerns: Cargo planes contribute to carbon emissions, and while the air freight industry is exploring greener technologies, it remains a challenge.
  • Space Constraints: Despite being large, freighters have their limits. Extremely large or wide items may require special handling, even beyond what cargo planes can accommodate.

Passenger Aircraft Cargo (Belly Cargo):

Passenger Aircraft Cargo or Belly Cargo refers to the practice of transporting goods in the underbelly of commercial passenger flights. This cargo is placed in the lower deck or belly compartment of the aircraft, sharing space with checked passenger luggage. Unlike dedicated cargo flights, which are exclusively for freight, belly cargo makes use of the otherwise underutilized storage space on regularly scheduled passenger flights. It provides an economical and efficient option for businesses and shippers to move goods globally while taking advantage of the extensive networks of commercial airlines.

How Belly Cargo Works

Passenger aircraft are designed with a separate compartment below the passenger seating area known as the cargo hold. In modern passenger planes, this space is typically divided into sections, with one part used for passenger luggage and the other for cargo. Airlines partner with logistics companies and freight forwarders to manage and load cargo into these available sections, offering space on flights that would otherwise be used solely for passengers.

  1. Cargo Space: The cargo hold in most wide-body and narrow-body passenger aircraft is pressurized and, in many cases, climate-controlled, making it suitable for a variety of shipments, including perishable items, live animals, and fragile goods.
  2. Cargo Compatibility: Goods transported as belly cargo must comply with size and weight limitations to fit into the aircraft’s designated cargo compartments. Items are typically loaded on Unit Load Devices (ULDs), which are standardized containers or pallets used for air freight. These ULDs are designed to maximize the space available in the cargo hold, ensuring the safe and secure transport of goods.
  3. Mixed Cargo: Unlike dedicated cargo planes that only carry freight, belly cargo involves a mix of passengers’ luggage and commercial cargo. Careful planning and coordination are needed to ensure all cargo is balanced correctly in the hold to maintain the aircraft’s weight distribution and safety standards.
Types of Goods Transported via Belly Cargo

Belly cargo services are versatile and used to transport a wide variety of goods, including:

  • Perishable Goods: Fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood, and flowers that need fast transportation and climate-controlled conditions are ideal candidates for belly cargo.
  • E-commerce Parcels: The rise of global online shopping has led to an increase in small and medium-sized parcels shipped via belly cargo, especially for international deliveries.
  • Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies: Many passenger aircraft offer temperature-controlled compartments in the cargo hold, allowing safe transport of medicines, vaccines, and medical devices.
  • High-Value Goods: Jewelry, electronics, and other valuable items are frequently shipped as belly cargo due to the fast turnaround times offered by passenger flights.
  • Live Animals: Small pets or animals traveling for various purposes (e.g., zoo transfers or conservation efforts) are transported in the belly hold, which is pressurized and climate-controlled for their safety.

Advantages of Belly Cargo Services

  1. Cost Efficiency: Since the primary purpose of passenger flights is to transport people, belly cargo offers a cost-effective way to transport freight. Airlines can fill otherwise unused space, allowing them to offer more affordable rates than dedicated cargo services.
  2. Extensive Global Network: Passenger airlines serve an expansive network of airports worldwide. By utilizing belly cargo, businesses can tap into the vast connectivity of scheduled commercial flights, allowing for the transportation of goods to almost any destination around the globe. Major airlines like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Lufthansa, for instance, cover numerous routes with frequent flight schedules.
  3. Frequent Departures and Flexibility: With thousands of passenger flights operating daily, belly cargo services provide great flexibility in terms of timing and availability. This makes it ideal for businesses that require flexible shipping schedules, as they can book space on multiple flights depending on urgency and destination.
  4. Speed and Accessibility: Belly cargo offers the speed of air freight without the high costs associated with chartering or booking a dedicated cargo plane. Goods transported in the belly of a passenger plane reach their destination quickly, often within hours for domestic flights or 24-48 hours for international routes.
  5. Environmental Impact: By utilizing space that would otherwise be left empty on passenger planes, belly cargo is a more eco-friendly shipping option compared to dedicated cargo flights. It allows for the efficient use of resources, lowering the environmental footprint of the transportation process.

Aircraft Used for Belly Cargo

  1. Wide-Body Aircraft: Wide-body planes like the Boeing 777, Airbus A350, and Boeing 787 have large cargo holds that can accommodate a considerable amount of freight. For example, a Boeing 777 can carry up to 18 tons of cargo in its belly, making it suitable for high-volume shipments.
  2. Narrow-Body Aircraft: Narrow-body aircraft, such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, have smaller cargo capacities but are still widely used for short-haul and medium-haul flights. These planes are typically used for domestic or regional belly cargo services.
  3. Regional Jets: Smaller regional jets are used for domestic routes or flights to remote areas where larger planes cannot land. While they offer limited cargo space, they are ideal for shipping small parcels or time-sensitive deliveries to less accessible locations.

Industry Players in Belly Cargo Services

  1. Emirates SkyCargo: One of the largest providers of belly cargo services, Emirates offers an extensive network of routes to and from major global hubs, leveraging its passenger fleet to transport goods. The airline is known for its specialized services, including temperature-sensitive and high-value cargo transport.
  2. Qatar Airways Cargo: Qatar Airways operates belly cargo services across its passenger fleet, connecting Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. It is particularly focused on the fast and efficient delivery of pharmaceuticals, perishables, and high-value goods.
  3. Lufthansa Cargo: Lufthansa’s extensive passenger network allows it to offer comprehensive belly cargo services, particularly within Europe and across transatlantic routes. The airline utilizes its belly hold space for small and medium-sized shipments, catering to a wide variety of industries.
  4. Delta Cargo: Based in the United States, Delta Cargo provides domestic and international belly cargo services, covering key markets in North America, Europe, and Asia. The airline specializes in the transport of perishables, animals, and general freight.
Best Use Cases for Belly Cargo
  • Smaller, Lightweight Shipments: Belly cargo is ideal for smaller items that do not require the space of a dedicated cargo flight. Common goods include e-commerce parcels, electronics, and fashion products.
  • Urgent and Time-Sensitive Deliveries: Belly cargo is perfect for businesses that need to move goods quickly but do not have enough volume to justify a dedicated cargo plane. Goods can be shipped on regularly scheduled passenger flights, ensuring fast delivery times.
  • Flexible Flight Routes: Belly cargo is beneficial when the destination airport is not a primary cargo hub. Passenger flights often serve a wider array of airports, allowing goods to be shipped to remote or secondary destinations.
  • Cost-Conscious Shipping: For businesses looking to balance speed and cost, belly cargo offers an affordable alternative to chartered cargo flights. By utilizing already scheduled passenger flights, shippers can benefit from lower costs while maintaining reasonable delivery times.

Challenges and Considerations

  1. Size and Weight Restrictions: Unlike dedicated cargo planes, belly cargo is limited by the size of the aircraft’s belly compartment. Larger or heavier shipments may not fit, and the total available cargo space is shared with passengers’ luggage, further limiting capacity.
  2. Capacity Fluctuations: During peak travel seasons or busy routes, belly cargo space may be reduced due to the high volume of passengers and their luggage. Airlines may prioritize passenger baggage over cargo in these situations.
  3. Less Specialized Handling: While many airlines offer temperature control in the cargo hold, the handling of goods may not be as specialized as on dedicated cargo planes, which are equipped with advanced loading and unloading systems.
  4. Security and Compliance: Certain goods may face stricter security measures when transported via belly cargo, especially hazardous materials or high-value items. Additional paperwork and compliance measures may be required.

Charter Services:

Charter air freight services involve renting or chartering an entire aircraft to transport goods on demand. Unlike scheduled cargo services, where flights operate on fixed routes and timetables, chartering a plane offers full flexibility, allowing businesses to dictate the flight’s schedule, route, and even the type of aircraft used. This option is often utilized when standard air freight services cannot meet the specific requirements of the shipment, either due to size, timing, or destination constraints.

How Charter Services Work

  1. Custom Scheduling: When chartering a plane, businesses have full control over the flight schedule. They can arrange the exact departure and arrival times, ensuring that goods are delivered on their timetable.
  2. Aircraft Selection: Based on the cargo’s requirements (size, weight, type), the customer selects the appropriate aircraft. Charter companies offer a range of planes from small turboprops for short hauls to large freighters like the Boeing 747 or Antonov An-124 for oversized cargo.
  3. Dedicated Route: The flight operates on a custom route, with the flexibility to fly to non-standard airports or locations that are not typically served by commercial airlines. This is particularly useful for deliveries to remote regions or areas impacted by natural disasters.
  4. Special Handling: Charter flights can be configured to handle specific types of cargo that require unique attention, such as dangerous goods, live animals, or highly valuable cargo.
Key Features of Charter Services
  1. Flexibility: Charter services offer the highest level of flexibility in terms of timing and route. Companies can arrange a flight on very short notice, making it ideal for emergency shipments or time-critical deliveries.
  2. No Cargo Restrictions: Unlike scheduled flights, which have strict cargo size and weight limits, charter services can accommodate unusually large or heavy items, including construction machinery, military equipment, or vehicles.
  3. Global Reach: Charter flights can access airports that are not typically served by major commercial airlines. This makes them ideal for deliveries to remote, rural, or conflict zones.
  4. Personalized Service: Businesses using charter services receive highly tailored solutions, from selecting the type of aircraft to customizing loading and unloading procedures.
Best Use Cases for Charter Services
  • Special Shipments: Large or heavy equipment, such as oil drilling machinery, that needs to be transported to remote locations.
  • Humanitarian Aid: Delivering relief supplies, food, or medical equipment to disaster-stricken areas where standard air routes are not available.
  • Time-Sensitive Projects: Businesses with critical, time-sensitive operations, such as film production or live event setups, where delays are costly.

Consolidated Air Freight:

Consolidated air freight involves combining multiple smaller shipments from various customers into a single larger shipment. These shipments share space on a cargo plane, allowing businesses to reduce their shipping costs by only paying for the space their goods occupy. Consolidated freight is typically managed by freight forwarders who gather smaller consignments, combine them into one cargo unit, and organize transportation on behalf of the customers.

How Consolidated Air Freight Works
  1. Cargo Collection: Freight forwarders collect small shipments from different customers and consolidate them into larger units for transport. These goods are carefully packed into standardized Unit Load Devices (ULDs) to optimize space in the cargo hold.
  2. Shared Space: By combining multiple smaller shipments into one large load, businesses share the cost of the cargo space. This method allows customers to benefit from air freight’s speed and reliability without having to pay for an entire plane.
  3. Multiple Destinations: The consolidated cargo is often broken down at destination hubs and then delivered to individual final addresses via truck or regional air services.
Key Features of Consolidated Air Freight
  1. Cost Efficiency: By sharing cargo space, consolidated freight significantly reduces the cost of shipping for smaller businesses or individuals. Instead of paying for unused space, customers only pay for what they use.
  2. Scheduled Services: Consolidated freight typically operates on scheduled flights, which means there may be less flexibility in terms of timing compared to express or charter services. However, this is offset by lower costs.
  3. Freight Forwarder Management: Freight forwarders play a key role in organizing and managing the consolidation process, from packing and documentation to customs clearance and final delivery.
  4. Cost Efficiency: By sharing cargo space, consolidated freight significantly reduces the cost of shipping for smaller businesses or individuals. Instead of paying for unused space, customers only pay for what they use.
  5. Scheduled Services: Consolidated freight typically operates on scheduled flights, which means there may be less flexibility in terms of timing compared to express or charter services. However, this is offset by lower costs.
  6. Freight Forwarder Management: Freight forwarders play a key role in organizing and managing the consolidation process, from packing and documentation to customs clearance and final delivery.
Best Use Cases for Consolidated Air Freight
  • Small to Medium-Sized Shipments: Businesses with smaller cargo volumes that do not require the speed or urgency of express services.
  • Cost-Sensitive Shipments: Goods that are not time-sensitive, where businesses are more concerned with minimizing shipping costs than ensuring fast delivery.
AIR FREIGHT SERVICES IN HYDERABAD​

Intermodal Air Freight:

Intermodal air freight services involve using multiple modes of transportation—such as air, road, and rail—to complete a delivery. In intermodal transportation, goods are moved by air for the long-distance portion of the trip and then transferred to trucks, trains, or other modes of transport for the final leg of the journey. This hybrid approach allows businesses to take advantage of the speed of air freight while also benefiting from the cost-effectiveness and flexibility of ground transportation.

How Intermodal Air Freight Works
  1. Air Transport: Goods are initially flown to a major airport or logistics hub closest to the destination. Air transportation covers the longest portion of the route, often between countries or across continents.
  2. Transfer to Ground Transport: Once the goods arrive at the destination airport, they are transferred to trucks or trains for final delivery. This transition is typically managed by freight forwarders or logistics companies.
  3. Final Delivery: The goods are transported via road or rail to their final destination, such as a warehouse, distribution center, or retail location.

Key Features of Intermodal Air Freight

  1. Cost-Effectiveness: By combining air freight with other transportation modes, intermodal services offer a more economical alternative to pure air freight. Businesses save money on the ground transportation leg of the journey.
  2. Flexible Routing: Intermodal services provide flexibility in terms of routing, allowing goods to reach areas that are not directly served by air.
  3. Efficient Use of Resources: Intermodal solutions reduce the need for dedicated air services to remote locations. Instead, air transport is used for the longest and fastest part of the journey, while ground transport covers shorter distances at lower costs.

Best Use Cases for Intermodal Air Freight

  • Long-Distance and Regional Shipments: Goods that need to be transported across continents or countries but can use ground transport for the final leg.
  • Cost-Conscious Shipping: Businesses looking to optimize transportation costs by using a combination of air and ground services without sacrificing speed.
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