Air freight
Part of the Transport & Related Services sector
Air freight providers move goods by aircraft, offering the fastest option for urgent, high-value or perishable international shipments. This hub explains what the service covers and how to find and compare verified air cargo providers on Digibition.
Looking to source in this sector, or want your company to appear here? Browse the directory or list your company.
Overview
Air freight is the transport of goods by aircraft, carried either in the holds of passenger flights (belly cargo) or on dedicated freighter aircraft. It is sold as standard, express and charter services, and priced on chargeable weight — the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight — rather than on size alone.
Air is the fastest mode over long distances and is chosen for urgent, high-value, perishable or time-critical goods where speed outweighs the higher cost. It involves airport handling, airlines that operate the capacity, and freight forwarders who book space, consolidate shipments and issue the air waybill.
On Digibition, air cargo carriers, forwarders and handling specialists publish verified profiles, so professional buyers can discover and compare them by route, service level and country rather than by advertising alone.
What to check when sourcing
When you select an air freight provider, the fundamentals are routing, chargeable weight and cargo restrictions. Confirm the airports and routes a provider serves, how it calculates chargeable weight, and whether your goods face airline or regulatory restrictions — dangerous goods, lithium batteries, perishables and oversized items all carry specific rules and acceptance conditions.
Beyond the flight, weigh service level and transit time, airport-to-door handling, and liability and cargo insurance, which under air conventions is typically limited by weight unless you declare a higher value. A forwarder that understands the air waybill, screening and security requirements, and the Incoterms that set where carriage and risk pass can prevent costly delays at acceptance.
Use the directory to shortlist providers by route, service level and country, then contact several and compare their transit times, restrictions and terms before you commit.
What to check when choosing an air freight provider
| Criterion | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Routing & airports | Airports and routes served that match your origin and destination |
| Service level | Standard, express or charter suited to your urgency |
| Chargeable weight | How actual versus volumetric weight is calculated and priced |
| Cargo restrictions | Airline and regulatory rules for dangerous goods, batteries and perishables |
| Liability & insurance | Weight-based liability limits and the option to declare a higher value |
| Documentation | Air waybill, security screening and Incoterms awareness |
Frequently asked questions
- What is air freight?
- Air freight is the transport of goods by aircraft, carried in the holds of passenger flights or on dedicated freighters. It is the fastest mode over long distances and is used for urgent, high-value, perishable or time-critical shipments where speed justifies the higher cost compared with sea or road.
- How is air freight priced?
- Air freight is priced on chargeable weight, which is the greater of the actual weight and the volumetric (dimensional) weight calculated from the shipment size. Light but bulky cargo is therefore charged on its volume, so confirm how a provider calculates chargeable weight before comparing rates.
- What cargo restrictions apply to air freight?
- Airlines and aviation regulations restrict or specially regulate items such as dangerous goods, lithium batteries, aerosols, perishables and oversized cargo, each with its own packaging, labelling and acceptance conditions. Confirm which rules apply to your goods with the provider before booking. This is general information, not legal or professional advice.
- How do I find air freight providers?
- Use the Digibition directory to filter by this specialization, by route or service level and by country, then open each company profile to review its services, routes and specializations. You can message providers directly, or add several to a quote list and request quotes from all of them at once.
- What should I check before committing to a provider?
- Confirm the airports and routes served, the service level and transit time, how chargeable weight is calculated, which cargo restrictions apply, and the liability limits and cargo insurance available. Clarify airport-to-door handling and documentation, and compare total cost across several providers before you commit.
Looking to source in this sector, or want your company to appear here? Browse the directory or list your company.
Important notice
This page is general industry information published by Digibition for educational purposes only. It is not legal, financial, tax, customs, regulatory, or other professional advice, and it is not a substitute for advice from a qualified professional. Standards, certifications, duties, taxes, and regulatory requirements differ between countries and markets and change over time; nothing here is guaranteed to be accurate, complete, or current. Verify any requirement independently with a qualified adviser and the relevant competent authority before you act. Digibition is an online company directory and digital-fair platform; it is not a party to any transaction between users and does not endorse, guarantee, or accept responsibility for any third-party company, product, claim, or certification. A company being reviewed or approved for listing refers only to Digibition's internal listing review and is not a warranty of that company's quality, legality, solvency, or performance. Any mention of specific standards or certifications is illustrative and is not an endorsement or a statement of compliance. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Digibition accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on this page; any reliance is at your own risk.