air freight vs air cargo: what’s the difference?

• What is Air Cargo?
• Types of Cargo
• How is Air Cargo Handled
• What is Air Freight
• How Air Freight Works
• Key Differences: Air Cargo vs Air Freight
• Why the Difference Matters
• The Advantages of Air Cargo Transportation
• The Disadvantages of Air Freight
• When Should You Use Air Freight?
• How Air Freight and Air Cargo Work Together
• Choosing the Right Option
• Air Cargo Handling Equipment Within Cargo Hubs
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

There are two main categories of air cargo: general cargo and special cargo, which is divided into subsections.

General Cargo

General cargo covers a wide variety of items, including consumer types of goods and electronics, except for mobile phones, laptops and tablets. General cargo items don’t need special handling or packaging. Most everyday items are general cargo.

Air freight is a specific category within air shipping and refers to the shipping of commercial goods by aircraft or freight services. Additionally, it encompasses logistics, costs and regulations.

Freight also refers to the amount due or money charged for the shipment, known as ‘freight costs’ or ‘freight charges’.

Air freight is often used by operators and organisations in or supporting:

• E-commerce
• Manufacturing
• Humanitarian aid
• Perishable goods
• Pharmaceuticals.

Cost Efficiency

The fact that ‘air freight’ includes more services has a powerful impact on business costs. The rapid transportation of goods by air freight shipments can also reduce inventory costs and holding costs, and choosing the right service can lower transportation costs because of how the goods are loaded together.

Speed and Reliability

Cost isn’t the only thing to consider when opting for air freight or air cargo. Speed is crucial. One advantage of air freight is speed and efficiency. Businesses may opt for air freight when the goods are time- or temperature sensitive and they’re counting on a whole range of services to ensure the goods arrive.

Handling and Compliance

An air freight operator can ensure compliance throughout the entire process, including handling. When dealing with large or complex shipments, an air freight service is the better choice, whereas if you’re a small company making a straightforward shipment, air cargo could be the way to go.

Reliable Schedules with Minimal Delays

Air transport is highly reliable because there are frequent departures and minimal delays, whereas in the case of sea freight, unfavourable weather conditions can delay transportation heavily.

Using our Ground Handling and air cargo systems will afford you these benefits because you can move goods safely around airport warehouses, to and from cargo terminals and onto the aeroplanes themselves. This safe, efficient handling of goods helps you to keep air freight operations quick, safe and on schedule.

Environmental Impact (higher CO₂ emissions)

There are concerns about the environmental impact of air freight, due to the higher greenhouse gas emissions than sea freight. The industry is working to address this.

Restricted Goods List

Safety is paramount, and air freight is subject to many restrictions. What is not allowed in air cargo? Explosives, flammable items and gases are either heavily regulated or outright prohibited. Toxic, corrosive or infectious substances, radioactive materials and lithium batteries are also either completely forbidden for transportation by air or, in some circumstances, are subject to heavy regulation.

Using our Air Cargo Equipment, however, can help you overcome some of the setbacks of transporting air freight. They increase loading capacity, which reduces costs, and help you handle items with care. Our air cargo handling systems also enable you to optimise the limited space in aircraft, which also lowers costs, or in trailers as part of a road feeder service.

‘Air cargo’ might describe goods and ‘air freight’ the method of transportation process, but the two concepts are part of the same ecosystem because, ultimately, the goal is the same: to move goods from A to B by air.

How Freight Forwarders Move Air Cargo Globally

As complicated as air freight can be, the freight forwarding process is straightforward:

‘Air freight’ is a specific category that refers to the transportation of commercial goods and includes the logistics, costs and air transportation regulations, whereas ‘air cargo’ generally refers to the goods themselves and can include personal goods, mail and parcels.

How Do You Choose The Right Service?

When choosing between air cargo transportation and air freight, you must consider several things.

• Are you transporting in bulk, in which case air freight could be better, whereas air cargo transportation is better for smaller, lighter ones and for e-commerce.
• Where are the goods going, and how fast do you need them to arrive? Air freight tends to cover long distances faster.
• Are the goods high value? Industrial? Is the shipment commercial, which would make air freight more suitable, whereas air cargo will be better for personal goods.

These systems not only lighten the load for anyone who must handle air cargo at airports and other facilities, but also makes the operation safer. This is especially important when working with special cargo. Workers can load and unload goods without damaging them and, at the same time, still optimise space.

We provide the below systems to make your cargo handling process safer and more efficient. We design, manufacture, install, and maintain the equipment to ensure you operations run smoothly.

Is air freight the same as air cargo?

Air freight and air cargo are related but not identical terms. Air cargo refers to the goods transported by air, including commercial goods, mail and parcels. Air freight describes the commercial logistics service, covering transport, handling, documentation and freight charges.

What is the fundamental difference between air freight and air cargo?

The fundamental difference is that air cargo describes what is being moved, while air freight describes how commercial goods are moved by air. Air freight includes logistics services, regulatory compliance and cost management, and is typically used for B2B, bulk or time-sensitive shipments.

What are the main types of air cargo?

The main types of air cargo are general cargo and special cargo. General cargo includes everyday goods that do not require special handling. Special cargo includes dangerous goods, perishables, time- and temperature-sensitive cargo and live animals, all of which must meet strict IATA requirements.

How do air freight and air cargo differ in terms of cost, speed and environmental impact?

Air freight is faster and more reliable than other transport modes but comes with higher costs and greater CO₂ emissions. Air cargo, particularly smaller or consolidated shipments, can be more cost-effective.

Improving load efficiency is key to reducing both cost and environmental impact. Joloda Hydraroll’s air cargo systems help optimise space, reduce handling time and support more efficient air freight operations.