Importance of air freight in global trade and supply chains

Air freight shipping is popular among those sending cargo internationally due to its fast and flexible transportation services. Time-sensitive or urgent cargo benefits greatly from international air freight, as it ensures quick delivery to maintain its value. Compared to ocean or land transportation, air cargo services have drawbacks like higher costs, cargo restrictions, and weather-related scheduling challenges. Despite this, air freight plays a vital role in global trade and supply chains, making it one of the most important shipping modes.

Why do Shippers Prefer Air Freight?

When there is a need for fast shipping, shippers usually choose air freight. If the value of goods is high and the volume is low, air freight is the preferred method. According to the IATA report, air freight plays a crucial role in global economic development and job creation. The success of international trade practitioners is based largely on their capacity to offer top-notch products at reasonable prices to consumers worldwide. Air cargo is responsible for transporting goods worth over 6 trillion dollars annually, accounting for approximately 35% of World Trade. 

Advantages Of Air Freight For Global Trade And Supply Chains

Shippers have relied on air freight for centuries for the following reasons:

Fast shipping: Air freight is a preferred option when the shipper needs to get his goods to the recipient as quickly as possible. This makes air freight one of the quickest ways to complete the task, particularly when the distance from the sender to the recipient is long and the time needed to complete the transportation is short.

Confirmed shipping: Air freight is at the top of the list when it comes to getting goods to their destination on time, regardless of where they need to go. Air carriers rarely schedule last-minute changes, except for emergency situations or changes in the government’s schedule. As a result, a shipper can depend on the Air Freight delivery times specified by the carrier to get their cargo to where they want it. 

Easy Tracking: Air freight allows you to track the status of your cargo from dispatch to delivery because there is a dedicated flight schedule. The freight forwarder can provide you with easy access to the shipment routing during transportation, so you can be confident about the location of your cargo.

High Insurance Of Goods: There are fewer cargo handling points in air freight compared to sea and land freight. This reduces the risk of lost, stolen or damaged goods. Also, because airports have stringent safety regulations and faster clearance procedures, air freight is the safest shipping method. 

Shipping Across Continents: The extensive network of airports and airlines allows air freight to transport goods in the shortest time possible.

Low Storage Cost: Since air freight allows for faster logistics, it may not be necessary to store a large quantity of goods at the destination, since the stock can be replenished by air freight in 2-3 days. Therefore, air freight helps producers to reduce the cost of warehousing goods at the destination.

The Importance Of Air Freight In World Trade

The airline industry plays a big role in international trade. It helps other industries work better and makes the world economy more efficient. Let's explore how air trade influences world trade.

Air Transport Facilitates Global Trade: With air freight, countries can now easily and quickly reach primary markets, thereby enhancing their participation in the global market. Air transportation facilitates the easy and safe movement of specialized goods and services to be displayed worldwide. It also assists in trade with countries that supply diverse goods and services.

Air Cargo Boosts Global Productivity: Improving air freight connections plays a vital role in expanding global markets. Air freight facilitates efficient transportation of products, enabling companies to benefit from economies of scale and global sales. All of this significantly reduces the cost. Companies that specialize in specific services or products that differentiate them from others are able to open up more markets for their products. Air services can also open up new markets for companies by introducing them to more competition and providing them with the opportunity to improve their functions and performance, leading to improved quality products and services.

Air Freight Improves Supply Chain Efficiency: Air freight is utilized for a multitude of services, all aimed at reducing delivery times to ensure timely shipments. This results in cost reduction and enables companies to reliably and swiftly deliver products to customers.

Air Freight Enhances Collaboration: Air transport has long been a platform for collaboration and networking between companies across the globe. A high-quality transport infrastructure also drives companies to invest more in development and research.

Undeniably, air freight is one of the fastest ways to transport goods within a short time. This feature of air freight sets is apart from other modes of transportation. With years of experience, we have gained the reputation of being the most reliable logistics service provider in Oman. We offer you streamlined shipping services in Oman to any part of the world. We possess the necessary expertise and network to ensure the safe transportation of your cargo, relieving you of one worry as you expand your business.