China Air Freight
Are you looking for an air freight forwarder to ship goods from shanghai, Beijing Guangzhou,Shenzhen, or other Chinese cities? Freightkim would be your finest choice! Tell us your shipping needs and we will offer you various air freight forwarding solutions tailor-made to meet your time and rates.
This is a comprehensive guide to air freight forwarding service from China.
In this all-new guide, you’ll learn all about:
• The benefits and when to choose
• How to calculate air freight cost
• Air shipping procedure
• Required documents by air
• Air freight quotes from China
• Tips to reduce the air freight costs
• Main airports and airlines
• Air shipment track and trace
• Lots more…
So if you want to make sure that your air shipment is properly handled, you should get a lot of value from this guide.
Air Freight Fundamentols
The Definition , Advantage &
Disadvantage, What & What not.
Air Freight Procedures
How to book air shipment ? And
when to make the payment ?
Air freight Documents
What documents are required if
shipping by air ?
Air Freight Costs
The weight calculation
Air Freight Quotes
How much and explanation about
the quotes
Airports
Where to load and where to
discharge ?
Air Shipping Abbreviations
The glossary of air shipping
terminology
Air cargo Tracking
How to track air shipment ?
Chapter 1
Air Shipping Fundamentals
Let’s kick things off with a chapter on the basics.
Specifically, in this chapter I’m going to cover air freight definition.
I’ll also show you when to or not to choose air freight.
What’s more, what can or can’t be shipped by air
Let’s dive in.
What is air freight ?
Air freight forwarding, or air cargo transport is used by global importers and exporters when they need goods rapidly.
It is provided by commercial cargo airline compaines with passenger airlines or cargo aircrafts.
Bottom line ?
This type of shipping is airport to airport only, not door to door.
Why should I choose air freight ?
Here we are going to talk about the advantages by air freight shipping.
• Fast Speed
In today’s accelerated global market, quick supply is a prerequisite for a successful business.
Speedy delivery provided by air freight is, of course, unmatched by any other means of transportation.
• Frequency and Reach
Air freight schedules are more compact and frequent.
That’s why you can find flight daily departs in our air shipping quote, while weekly vessel for sea shipping.
That said, the connectivity of air transportation is definitely better than sea transportation.
What products are shipped by air？
With above advantages and disadvantages of air freight forwarding, it can be easier for you to understand whether to ship by air for your goods from China.
Normall, the air shipments could be below 3 types of cargo.
• High value cargo and requires security shipping.
• Small cargo with small quantities, weight and volume.
• Cargo requires to be delivered with urgency and frequency.
A good example is high-priced electronic equipment or medical products.
When shouldn’t I ship by air ?
The disadvantages by air freight shipping.
• Cost
Simply put, Cost is the biggest downside.
In most heavy cargo or big volume shipment, air cargo shipping costs can be much more than sea freight.
So if you want to make the shipping budget within control, air freight may not be a good option.
• Capacity
To be exact, size and weight Limitation
The size of an airplane is undoubtedly less than a container ship’s size.
For many oversize or over weight project cargo , air shipping can be unsuitable.
What goods are not allowed by air？
Always keep in mind that shipping safety is always the first priority.
Definitely you can’t ship anything you want by air. The goods you shipped by air are subject to limitations.
The list of prohibited or restricted goods potentially includes :
• lithium batteries ( such as power banks and other electronic devices)
• liquid ( such as nail polish )
• powder ( such as chemical pigment )
• magnetic (such as motor)
• explosive material
• perishable goods
• fine art
• precious metals
• live animal
• ……
Having said that, it does not automatically mean that you can’t ship any such items.
But you have to follow IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations to go through the inspection and clearance procedure beforehand.
The key point is to ensure cargo properly packed.
And provide the required documentation ( MSDS, Chemical test report, DGM, UN 38.3 etc) for verification before make the booking.
Chapter 2
Air Freight Procedures
Now you have a basic knowleage about air freight forwarding
The next is to plan a air shipment.
With your question is how, we came to the this chapter:
How does it work by air freight
1.Inquiry
1.1 Consult your freight forwarder ( Tips : How to find a reliable China freight forwarder ? )
The following information will be needed in order to obtain a accurate rate.
- Commodity
- Weight
- Volume
- Quantites
- POL
- POD
- Ship Date
- Cargo Value
1.2 Based on the shipment details, forwarder will offer you the shipping quote.
Normally, a complete air shipping proposal will give you following things :
- air carrier
- route
- transit time
- flight schedule
- air quote
- additional remark
- validity
2.Booking
You select and confirm the shipping quote.
And then give the supplier contact information to forwarder together with AWB instruction of shipper & consignee.
If you are doing middleman business, see how to make blind shipping to protect your business secret.
Based on the booking confirmation and instruction, your forwarder will make the booking.
Generally, following work will be included :
- Ask booking form from supplier if it is a FOB shipment
- Send booking information to the target airline and secure the flight & space
3. Opeartion
It’s all about the basic work involved in getting a shipment out of China.
- Picking up the cargo to airport
- Coordinating with supplier for Customs clearance
- Shipment documents process like preparing AWB
- Get the air shipment insurane covered
4. Pay
Your forwarder will send you the freight invoice.
And then you make the shipping payment based on the amount and bank account.
After that , shipment will be released.
i.e the air freight payment condition is : 100 % freight prepaid.
Why freight collect is not allowed ?
Because once flight took off, forwarder can’t control the goods and may can’t receive the payment.
5. Aftersole
Now it is the final step.
You have few things to do except :
- Track shipment status by yourself if you want ( A qualified forwarder will do this for you )
- Answer the phones from airline when goods arrival for import Customs clearance ( If the service is to door, coordinate with delivery time with destination agent )
- Leave comments, suggestions or complaint for the forwarding service
Chapter 3
Air Freight Documents
To make sure goods get to their destination without any trouble, it’s essential to get your paperwork and shipping documentation right.
This chapter is all about shipment documents when using air freight services.
I’ll show you what documents necessary , what are optional and who provide them.
Airway Bill
Pay attention that it is the most important document for air shipping.
The AWB identifies the shipper, consignee, and the types and quantity of the goods.
It is essentially the contract between the owner of the goods and the carrier.
The original AWB is delivered together with your cargo.
● Who Needs : Destination Customs authorities and Customs broker.
● Who Provide : Airline ( The carrier )
● Necessity : Necessary
Packing List
The packing list identifies items, quantities, and includes the net and gross weight and dimensions of the packages .
Custom officials may also use this list to check the cargo. It’s much better that they know which box to open or pallet to unwrap rather than have them search the entire shipment.
● Who Needs : Destination Customs authorities and Customs broker.
● Who Provide :
* Your Chinese Supplier
* Or yourself if you are a middle man ( Use your own doc to keep shipment blind )
* Or Your forwarder ( Value added service especially for cargo consolidation )
● Necessity : Necessary
Commercial Invoice
Commercial invoice lists the value of each item as well as the total value of the shipment.
It also includes basic information about the transaction, such as the name and address of the shipper and seller and the delivery and payment terms.
Some countries like Egypt may require invoice certification by embassy.
● Who Needs : Destination Customs authorities and Customs broker.
● Who Provide :
* Your Chinese Supplier
* Or yourself if you are a middle man ( Use your own doc to keep shipment blind )
* Or Your forwarder ( Value added service )
● Necessity : Necessary
Certificate of Origin
The certificate of origin ( C/O ) is used to declare which country the shipment originated in.
This is very important for customs clearance purposes.
Every international location carries distinct rules and regulations based on where the goods originated.
C/O is usually certified by an authorized semiofficial organization, like a Chamber of Commerce or a country’s consulate office.
● Who Needs : Destination Customs authorities and Customs broker.
● Who Provide :
* Your Chinese Supplier
* Or Your forwarder ( Value added service )
● Necessity : Optional ( But recommended to reduce the import tariff )
Insurance Policy
Remember high value product is one of the air shipments shipments ?
Insurance is what you need to cover the loss of or damage to the cargo during transit.
● Who Needs : You or final consignee
● Who Provide :
* Your forwarder ( Value added service )
● Necessity : Optional , but recommended if the cargo value is high
Other documents may be required depending on the cargo itself and destination country.
Including :
• Dangersours Cargo ( MSDS , UN38.3, DGM, Chemical test report )
• Product certicate ( CCC, FDA, CE,etc )
• Invoice authentication ( Egypt )
• Form M ( Nigeria )
• ……
Chapter 4
How to Calculate Air Freight Costs
In chapter 1 , we have talked cost is the biggest disadvantage by air.
But what makes it more expensive when compared with sea freight ?
How to calculate air shipping cost ?
Specifically, the weight calculation is what I’m going to talk about
How to calculate by air freight costs?
When comes to calculation, there are 3 formulas you need to learn.
The first one is to calculate the total air shipping cost.
✔ Air Shipping Cost = Weight x Unit Price
Interpretation
• Weight is a key factor for air freight
• The chargeable unit by air freight is weight ( per kilogram ).
For example,
if you have a shipment ( 500 kg, 2 CBM ) from Shenzhen to London,
When the quote is USD 4 / KG, then total air shipping cost is 500 x 4 = USD 2000.
However, besides the weight, volume is also matters.
This is because the final chargeable weight is depend on the large one between actual weight and volumetric weight (also known as dimensional weight) according to the rules of IATA.
GROSS WEIGHT = PRODUCT WEIGHT + PACKING WEIGHT
Actual weight is the real weight of your goods and packing materials, gross weight, simple enough!
The volumetric weight fomula:
Interpretation:
If the volumetric weight exceeds the actual weight of the product, the volumetric weight becomes the chargeable weight.
Otherwise, actual weight cane still be the final chargeable weight.
For example,
If the cargo gross weight is 100 KG and 1.5 CBM, then final chargeable weight is the volumetric weight 1.5 x 167 = 250.5 KG, not actual weight 100 KG.
If the cargo gross weight is 100 KG and 0.5 CBM, the volumetrc weight is 83.5 KG, it is less than actual weight 100 KG, so 100 KG will be charged.
USEFUL TIPS :
Pay attention to the cargo volume.
If the cargo is light, the big volume will effect the whole shipping price a lot.
So remember to well pack in the size as small as you can.
QUESTION:
Some importers may find the final chargeable weight on their China forwarder’s freight invoice is quite different from what they got from supplier.
Why volume and weight differ a lot compared with data from supplier ?
Well. It happens.
One reason is the volumetric weight, this have been explained.
Another is the data on the packing list by supplier is inaccurate.
So after goods delivered to airline warehouse, airline will reweigh and remeasure.
Date given by airline is the final and will be shown on airway bill.
As the payment term for air freight service is normally freight prepaid only,
It is fare to arrange the freight payment to forwarder when only confirm this final chargeable weight,
Thus to avoid pay more or less.
Chapter 5
How much for air freight ?
Just we talked about how to calculate the weight.
Now it is time to introduce ” unit price “, another part of the air freight cost formula.
i.e in this chapter you will learn all things about air freight quote.
How much does it cost for air freight ?
Use this free calculator to get instant air cargo estimates from China.
1.What’s the minimum weight of air shipping ?
For many routes and airlines, the minimum order by air is 45KG.
But some are now 100 KG.
For goods below that, courier can be more cost-effective.
2.Can I get cheaper price for big cargo ?
As you can see in the price table, the chargeable weight range for air shipping is +45KG, +100 KG, + 300 KG, + 500 KG, +1000 KG.
That said, the interval price is appliable in air freight.
The more heavy the cargo, the more favorable unit price will be.
For example,
if you have 2 air shipments, one 350 KG, another 700 KG.
For 350 KG, it belong to + 300 KG, A/F is USD 4.0/KG.
And for 700 KG, it belong t0 + 500 KG, A/F will be cheap at USD 3.75 / KG.
And if you combine two shipments to ship together, the gross weight is 1200 KG, unit price for + 1000 KG is $ 3.5 / KG .
USEFUL TIPS :
That’s to say cargo consolidation will save a lot for you.
3.Aside from base rate, what additional charges required ?
If you still remember,
air freight service is airport to airport service as talked in the chapter 1.
The total air freight cost calculation and quote we given is just for airport to airport.
Beyond that, air freight price will also likely include:
• Fuel surcharges
• Security surcharges
• Container freight station/terminal handling charges
• Airport transfers
In addition,
if you also need door to door service, the necessary costs in the qutoe could be :
“√” means necessary charge.
4. Are air freight costs frequently changing ?
It depends.
Air freight price from China is relatively fixed unlike FCL sea freight.
Normally an air shipping quote can be applicable for 2 weeks or more in slack season.
But the air price may differ a lot in Peak Season or holiday season ( China National Day, Chinese New Year , Christmas ,etc ) .
Meanwhile, the external factors can effect the price a lot.
If you ever imported from China during the trade war and COVID-19 pandemic, you should know the price is amazing high.
USEFUL TIPS:
The air shipping capacity and flight schedule may be worse at those time.
If shipment is urgent, make sure every steps in your control and plan ahead.
Otherwises, the increasing price and delay will lose your client or chance to win.
Chapter 6
Where to load and where to discharge ?
Remember POL & POD in the quote parts ?
In this charpter, I will show you how to choose the port of loading in China
And introduce the world airports and airport codes
Let’s get started
What’s the main airports for air freight from China ?
There are hundreds and thousands of airports in China, airports in below table are the mainly used .
How to choose the airports for air freight ?
There are two criterias we normally use :
• Choose the closest airport.
Suppose your supplier is located in Shijiazhuang city, Hebei provience, the goods can load from the closest airport Beijing ( PEK ).
There is no need to take time and more inland delivery costs to ship from Shenzhen ( SZX ).
• Choose the main airport.
Still, when your cargo goods in Shijiazhuang city, Hebei Provience,
Why not directly ship from Shijiazhuang airport ( SJW ), but have to deliver to Beijing ?
This is because SJW is just a small airport, Despite it is the closest airport,
Main airports like Beijing ( PEK ) means more airline companies with different routes, schedules and costs.
And it is same for discharge airport.
For example, cargo discharge at to Los Angeles ( LAX ) can be more suitable than to San Diego ( SAN ).
Did you notice that I mark the 3 letter code for every airport ?
Well, these are airport codes formulated by the IATA. It is widely used in air freight industry.
For example, you don’t need to mention air shipping from Shanghai to Moscow
PVG-DME is enough.
Further you can check this shipping guide : 3 letter airport codes for global airports.
Chapter 7
A glossary of air shipping abbreviation
In fact, you can also see many other abbreviations in the shipment documentations or communications with your suppliers.
Besides AWB, CBM, D2D etc common used you see before, what about SHPT, CNEE ?
Now take a look of this words
Abbreviation
ULD
LSE
A2A
ARR
AVI
AWB
A2D
BAG
BIG
COLL
CAO
CPTY
D2A
D2D
DEP
DEPT
DG
DGR
DIMS
DLV
EDI
DAP
FLT
Full Name
Unit Load Device
Loose
Airport to Airport
Arrive, Arrived, Arrival
Live Animals
Airway Bill
Airport to Door
Baggage
Outsized cargo
Collect, Collected, Collecting
Cargo Aircraft Only
Capacity
Door to Airport
Door to Door
Departure
Department
Dangerous Goods
Dangerous Goods Regulations
Dimensions
Deliver, Delivered, Delivering.
Electronic Data Interchang
Delivered As Promised
Flight
Abbreviation
FSU
GHA
HEA
ISA
MSG
NND
OAG
OB
OFOD
PAX
RCF
RCPT
RCF
RCT
SAWB
SHPMNT
SSPD
SSR
TACT
TEMP
TRA
DGD
DGR
Full Name
Flight Status Update
Ground Handling Agent
Heavy Cargo
If space available
Message
Notice of Non Delivery
Official Airline Guide
On Board
On-flight origin and destination
Passengers
cargo has arrived in the cargo bay at final
Receipt, Reception
Ready For Carriage
Ready For Transport
Substitue Airway Bill
Shipment
Shord Shipped
Special Service Required
The air cargo tariff
Temperature
Transit
Shipper’s declaration for dangerous goods
DGR Dangerous Goods Regulations
If you have such confusion, or if you have questions regarding certain shipping words,
Just take a look at this glossary with most used air shipping abbreviation.
You can also download to read when you are convenient.
Chapter 8
Air Cargo Tracking
Where is my cargo ? What’s the shipping stauts ?
People care more about the shipment when the shipping order placed
But some of the forwardes reply slow and follow up is poor, even they don’t provide tracking service
So in this chapter, we will cover how to track the shipments by yourself
The first step is obtaining a tracking number.
There are 2 ways to get this:
Ask your forwarder
Get it from the AWB ( See the AWB example : On the top left corner ).
Then, go to the airline’s website. You may ask what’s the airline you use ?
Well, here is another 3 ways.
Review your forwarder’s quote ( Remember the 6 items in air quote ? )
Find it on the AWB ( See the AWB example : Emirates Airline, on the right ).
Check the prefix ( Every airline have unique 3 letter prefix identification. For example 176 means EK. )
And you can try our air tabulation which collects 135 major airlines of air cargo from China.
CONCLUSION
That’s all for my guide to air freight forwarding from China.
If you plan to ship from China, now or in the future, please contact me, and I will provide you with a solution subsequently.
