Air transport – what is it and when is it worth it?

In today’s fast-paced world of logistics, time is often money – and sometimes even more than that. That is why many companies choose air transport for their goods, even though it is more expensive than other forms of transport. But does a higher cost always mean lower profitability? When does air freight become an investment rather than just an expense? And how can you recognise situations where it really pays off?

In this article, we will look at what air transport is, what its advantages and disadvantages are, and in which cases it can bring the most benefits.

What is air transport?

Air transport, also known as air freight and air cargo, is one of the fastest growing branches of modern logistics. In simple terms, it is a way of moving goods and parcels by plane, enabling them to be delivered over long distances in a short time. In practice, this can mean delivery from Asia to Europe in just a few days – and in express mode, even within a dozen or so hours.

Air freight is considered one of the most technologically and organisationally advanced forms of transport, which is why it is of great importance for the functioning of the global market. It enables a quick response to customer needs, efficient delivery of seasonal products and even ensures continuity of production, especially in the case of high-value or time-sensitive goods.

Importantly, the entire process does not always take place exclusively in the air. Often, before the cargo reaches the aircraft, it is transported by land to the nearest airport and then from the destination airport to its final destination. This is referred to as intermodal transport, in which land transport is used for the so-called first and last mile.

Read also: What is intermodal transport? When is it worth using? >>>

Types of air transport

Depending on the needs, nature of the cargo and the method of organisation, air transport of goods can be divided into three main forms: consolidation, direct service and charter freight.

Consolidation of shipments

This is the most popular and most cost-effective form of transport. A single flight combines multiple shipments from different senders, which are then delivered to a single destination country. This allows the cost of air freight to be shared among several customers. However, it is necessary to complete the entire load, which can sometimes delay departure by up to several days. For companies that want to save money but do not have very tight deadlines, this is the optimal solution.

Transport on individual terms (direct service)

In this model, the shipment goes to the baggage compartment (lower deck) of a passenger aircraft operating a scheduled flight. This form of air transport allows for faster delivery than consolidation and offers the option of selecting a flight directly to the destination. The disadvantage here is additional size restrictions. This solution is often chosen by companies that need a more flexible schedule for the transport of their cargo.

Charter flights (cargo charter)

This form of air transport is intended for extremely urgent shipments, those of high value, non-standard dimensions, or when full control of the time and place of delivery is important. In a charter, the entire aircraft is rented exclusively for your own cargo.

This is the most expensive version of air freight, but it offers maximum flexibility and reliability of delivery. In this case, immediate delivery can be arranged even to hard-to-reach locations. Charters are often used in emergency situations when every hour of delay generates high losses. It should be remembered that such transport involves the need to pay for a return flight, even if the aircraft returns empty.

It is also worth mentioning that there is another separate category of air transport services on the market – courier transport. It combines air transport with ground handling and enables fast delivery (e.g. of documents) directly to the specified address.

In the rest of this article, we will analyse the advantages and disadvantages of air transport and when its use brings real benefits.

Advantages of air transport – it doesn’t get any faster

It is not without reason that air transport is considered one of the most prestigious logistics solutions. Although it is more expensive than other forms of transport, its advantages make it indispensable in many cases.

When speed is a business advantage

Speed of delivery is usually the most important reason why companies choose air freight. Aircraft cover long distances in a very short time. Consignments can reach destinations thousands of kilometres away in just a few days, and in express mode often even on the same day. This is crucial for urgent shipments such as medicines, foodstuffs and documents.

For many companies operating on a just-in-time model, choosing air transport is the only way to avoid downtime and maintain business continuity.

Lower risk of damage and loss

Time is not the only advantage of air transport. It also involves fewer transhipments. This means there is less risk of damage, loss or theft. Goods are also often better secured and their condition is monitored more closely. This means that delicate equipment, foodstuffs and luxury goods are much less exposed to external factors and can reach their destination safely.

Air transport is also statistically recognised as the safest form of transport for goods. Compared to the number of road accidents and incidents at sea, air disasters are rare.

Global availability and flexibility of delivery

Not every country has access to the sea, but almost every country has an airport – usually more than one. For this reason, air transport guarantees global accessibility, even in difficult geographical conditions.

What is more, many airlines offer flexible route networks, making it easier to adjust shipping times to customer needs. This is a much more convenient option than waiting weeks for space on a container ship.

In addition, in extraordinary circumstances – such as emergencies or natural disasters – aircraft are often the only means of transport capable of delivering immediate assistance to those in need.

Disadvantages of air transport – what you need to know

Although air transport offers exceptional speed and safety, it is not a perfect solution. Like any technology, it has its limitations and costs that should be considered before deciding to use it.

High costs

This is by far the biggest disadvantage of air freight – it can be several times more expensive than sea or road transport. This is due to the high costs of aviation fuel, airport charges, fleet maintenance and qualified personnel.

For low-margin goods or those with less urgent delivery times, these expenses may exceed the potential profits. For this reason, air transport is usually reserved for products that are high value or have a short shelf life.

There is also the need to organise and pay for the transport of cargo on the routes between the place of dispatch and the airport and between the airport and the destination.

Technical and logistical limitations

Compared to container ships, for example, aircraft have a more limited load capacity, both in terms of weight (tonnes of cargo) and dimensions. Therefore, not all goods can be loaded on board. In the case of large-size shipments, air transport may be impossible or very difficult, often requiring disassembly or special permits.

In addition, there are safety requirements. Dangerous goods, such as explosives, flammable, toxic and radioactive materials, certain chemicals and even lithium-ion batteries, are subject to special transport restrictions. Many of them are completely prohibited in air transport or require special permission from the air carrier. Regulations may vary depending on the airline and airport, so it is advisable to check the applicable requirements for each shipment individually.

Formalities, procedures and advanced organisation

Although customs clearance only takes place in the country of dispatch and the country of destination, in the case of air transport, the procedures are rigorous and require the preparation of many necessary documents, including waybills, invoices, certificates and an EORI number. In addition, planning the delivery of goods to the airport and their collection and transport from the airport to their final destination requires precise organisation and cooperation between many entities, which further increases the complexity of the entire process.

All this means that good coordination with a customs agency or freight forwarder is essential. Otherwise, minor errors can cause delays, even with a perfect flight plan.

Environmental impact

Air transport is currently one of the most emission-intensive modes of transport. Aircraft generate significant amounts of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases. Although the industry is striving for climate neutrality, this is still an argument against air transport in less urgent cases.

Strong dependence on weather conditions

It should also be remembered that current weather conditions play an important role in the organisation of air freight. Extremely strong winds, storms or snowstorms can cause delays in take-off and, in extreme cases, even flight cancellations. In this respect, road transport is less prone to delays as it copes better with difficult weather conditions.

You may be interested in: What is sea transport? Advantages and disadvantages of sea freight >>>

When is air transport profitable?

Despite high costs and load restrictions, air transport is often the most cost-effective solution – and sometimes the only one possible. It all depends on the individual situation: the type of cargo, time requirements, the value of the goods and the availability of other options. Let’s take a look at when it is worth choosing air transport.

Goods with high unit value

If you are transporting electronics, jewellery, works of art, medical instruments or other high-value products, the cost of transport is only a small percentage of the total value of the shipment. In this case, air freight is cost-effective because, as already mentioned, it ensures:

• fast delivery,
• lower risk of damage,
• minimal risk of theft or loss.

In the logistics of luxury goods, prestige and reliability also matter – and in this respect, air transport is unrivalled.

Perishable and transport-sensitive products

Food products, fresh flowers, medicines and biological laboratory materials – all cargoes of this type have a short shelf life, require special conditions and cannot spend weeks on a container ship.

Industries that use this solution include:

• pharmaceutical industry,
• medical sector,
• food production,
• biotechnology sector.

Urgent and emergency shipments

For business-critical shipments where delivery time is extremely important and every hour of delay generates real losses, the choice is obvious. In such situations, air transport not only allows you to fulfil your order at short notice, but also avoids contractual penalties, damage to your image and production downtime.

Globally operating companies

If your company sells products or components in many countries, international supply chain management becomes crucial. Airports and a global network of connections allow you to reach every continent within a few days.

In the era of globalisation, air transport provides:

• expansion into new markets,
• delivery to customers in remote regions,
• efficient fulfilment of seasonal and promotional orders.

Air transport is therefore the best possible choice when time, safety and quality of delivery are paramount. It is a solution that works particularly well for urgent, fragile or high-value goods, where every hour and every detail counts.

Summary

The importance of air transport is constantly growing thanks to modern technologies that increase its speed, safety and control over shipments. Today, it plays a key role in modern logistics, being one of the pillars of global supply chains.

Despite high costs and weight restrictions, it is an extremely effective form of transport, especially when time, quality and reliability are of the essence. Thanks to an extensive network of connections and airports, fast deliveries are possible even to the most difficult locations around the world.

If you are planning to ship delicate, small, high-value or time-sensitive products, air transport may not only be justified, but necessary. As always in business, profitability depends on the context, so it is important to analyse the individual purpose, type of cargo, budget and expected delivery time for each order.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What are the types of air transport?

There are three main forms of air transport: consolidated (combining shipments from multiple senders), direct service (individual shipment on a scheduled flight – using regular flight connections) and charter (renting an entire aircraft). Courier transport, i.e. fast door-to-door deliveries, also operates separately.

What are the advantages of air freight transport?

The most important advantages of air transport include: the ability to deliver goods quickly (unlike transport by sea, for example), global availability (not only to major airports, but also to hard-to-reach places), a high level of cargo security, low failure rates and the ability to track shipments.

What products do we transport by air?

Air transport is most often used to transport high-value, time-sensitive, fragile and other products for which fast and safe delivery is particularly important. It is used to transport goods such as:

• consumer and industrial electronics,
• food products,
• medicines, vaccines and medical devices,
• documents and express shipments,
• business-critical cargo (e.g. spare parts and components),
• luxury goods (e.g. jewellery, works of art).