Countries have long been trading for a long time, and different means of transportation have been used. There are new ways for freight forwarding in today’s world, and goods require specific requirements, that without them, it is impossible to do freight forwarding.
Before referring to the various modes of transportation, it is good to know what “international transportation” is. In international trade, goods may cross the borders of one or more countries to reach their destination. Thus, international transportation refers to how a commodity starts from the origin and achieves the desired destination.
Therefore, a series of international requirements and laws must be observed by the buyer or seller. However, in domestic transportation, only internal standards and procedures are considered.
Some things like different shipping methods, consideration of international rules such as Incoterms, and some other items are essential requirements that must be considered in international shipping.
In this type of transportation, the intended shipment may be a product, package, letter, or other items. As an exporter or importer, this requires that you be proficient in international law, foreign trade terms, customary practices, and some other points.
In recent years, China has been a powerful hub, and many businessmen and businesswomen travel to this country every year to provide products for their business. Therefore, freight forwarding is an important and challenging issue for many people who want to transport their goods from China to other countries.
This article aims to discuss “why to choose a Chinese freight forwarder for air cargo,” at the end, you will have enough information in this field.
The history of air cargo
Before discussing why to choose a Chinese freight forwarding for air cargo, it is better to have a quick look at the history of air cargo farming.
The first cargo flight took place on November 7, 1910, in the United States, between Dayton and Columbus, Ohio. Pilot Philip Erwin Parmelia piloted a Wright Model B plane 65 miles (105 km) with 200-pound silk packages to open a store.
In that year, a newspaper quoted that the cargo flight covered Dayton and Columbus’s distance in 66 minutes, but that flight was officially recorded at 57 minutes, which was an excellent record in that time!
Therefore, air freight became ubiquitous worldwide, and many people used this flexible way to transport their packages!
The world’s first official airmail flight also took place on February 18, 1911, at a major exhibition in Agar and Owood provinces in British India. The aviation exhibition organizer, Walter Wingham, obtained a flight permit from the Gendarmerie General in India to provide airmail services to produce advertisements for the exhibition and raise money for charity.
This was the first airmail flight by Henry Pique to fly 6,500 letters in 13 kilometers (8.1 miles) from Allahabad to Naini, the nearest Mumbai-Calcutta line station. On this occasion, the aircraft was a “Humber-Sommer” wireless aircraft with a power of about 37 KW, and it delivered letters by air within 30 minutes.
In Britain, the first airmail service was on September 9, 1911, in the English suburbs of Handon and the Postmaster-General office in Windsor-Berkshire. This was part of the King George V’s Celebration Ceremony, at the suggestion of Sir Walter Wingham, who oversaw the successful airline flight test in India. The service was launched in less than a month and delivered 35 packages with 16 flights.
In the early 1920s, aviation increased rapidly as employers and industry owners realized that aircraft could carry valuable, low-volume cargo faster than trains and ships.
The first scheduled flight from London to Paris in 1919 had only one passenger, but it carried leather cargo for a shoe manufacturer and food for a restaurant in France.
Besides, the movie industry was one of the first customers for air freight. The original version of the movies was flown to copying centers and then sent for distribution in European cinemas!
All in all, air freight has become one of the most significant ways of transporting, and imagining a world without flights is impossible in this century!
What is meant by air cargo?
Air transport plays a significant role in countries’ business, often as an economic growth indicator. The development of aviation has also made more significant progress today by improving cultural and social services, the expansion of economic activities, the increase of regional employment, and tourism development.
The development of air transport depends not only on natural, economic, and social factors but also on political and legal decisions and applying financial and executive rules and regulations.
For this reason, reviewing legislation and removing many restrictive administrative regulations has always been a factor in expanding the airline’s operations worldwide. The pace of change and advancement of aviation technology is inevitable with aviation industry technology development in infrastructure planning.
Air cargo is transported by particular aircraft such as giant Beluga or Antonov 225 from country to destination. It can be the exact meaning of air transportation.
Different Types of air cargo
The type of air transit is determined based on three critical factors:
- Volume of goods
- Delivery time
- Price
However, it is better to know that none of them is superior to the other. In other words, it can be said that each of them is used depending on the needs of individuals and provides the possibility of easy movement of goods or passengers.
In principle, you should choose the best option for transporting your goods by knowing these methods’ characteristics!
Besides, the costs and value of goods transported, their size and weight should be evaluated; therefore, if the product is gold or banknotes, you should choose the safest air transportation method.
Charter flight (both passengers and goods)
When all the seats on an airplane are given to one airline, it is called a charter flight. For example, when an airline charters a flight route such as China-Tokyo for a certain period, it is called a China-Tokyo charter flight. These flights are usually used for busy roads so that tickets can be booked at any time.
This transportation method chooses the shortest routes to travel so as not to get stuck in air traffic. Of course, private and tourism agencies use charter flights, and other agencies such as sports clubs, government agencies, and offices can book this service for their staff. The most important advantages of the charter method are the following:
- Cost savings
- Shorter route than other types of air transport
- Possibility of the group booking
- Case of long-term reservation; for example, three months
- Lease the aircraft for a specified period
Commercial flight
Another type of air cargo is the commercial transit method. In this method, only goods are moved, but their transportation has unique rules and principles determined by ICAO International Airlines. Transportation of goods is done in two ways:
- Cargo
- Ferrite
The first method is more cost-effective.
In cargo ( a commercial method ), the goods are shipped on masse, and people can send their low loads to the destination and other shipments. This method is performed by special cargo planes, and it is done under safety standards.
Ferrite is also used to transport goods that are intended for long-distance travel and are not commercial. For this purpose, they must use aircraft that can carry their cargo in this way. Usually, most passenger planes can take goods by ferrite, and there is no need to worry about this.
Dangerous goods by air cargo
Dangerous goods are items and materials that endanger the health of the aircraft. Carrying such things must be based on the guidelines of the “International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)” and the “Association of Airlines (IATA).”
Hazardous materials and goods must be packed according to unique and international conditions and rules of airfreight. This packaging must be of high quality and with a safe structure to prevent leakage in the conditions of temperature humidity changes, pressure, and vibration.
Each package must have a suitable label, a relevant logo, and it must have symbols such as:
- The international number for hazardous substances UN number
- Businesses requesting for transporting of dangerous goods and DGR
The customer is obliged to provide the following international documents for the freight forwarder for dangerous goods by airfreight:
- Certificate for the safe transport of goods
- Certificate of origin
- Material safety data sheet
How to transit our goods by airfreight?
Now that you are familiar with the various air cargo methods, it is better to know how to transit goods. All you have to do is go to one of the airline agencies and send your goods to the relevant destination by filling out the application form and paying the fee. This method is very safe and very efficient.
The essential advantages of air cargo are:
- Transit cargo to all parts of the country and the world
- Cooperation with most freight and airline companies
- Enjoy high speed in intercity service and transportation
- Provide door-to-door service
- Calculate the cost of cargo based on the weight and size of the goods, which saves costs
- Inquire about the status of the load via SMS and email
What package size is vital for air cargo service?
If you want to choose this way, it is essential to know all the detailed information. Air cargo are ideal methods for these conditions:
- When goods are under 200 kg
- When goods aren’t in bad shape
It is better to remember that this way is not suitable for super large cargo. In air cargo, goods can transport in the Express or Classic method. In Express, all goods arrive between 1 to 3 business days at the destination, but it takes 4 to 8 business days in a second way.
- All you have to do is go to one of the airline agencies and send your goods to the relevant destination by filling out the application form and paying the fee. This method is very safe and very efficient.
Door to door shipping service by a Chinese freight forwarder for air cargo
Door to door shipping service is an excellent way for goods freight done by air or sea. As air freight is expensive, many people prefer other ways. It depends on the customer to choose one of these ways in the door to door shipping service. This method is very safe and very efficient.
The essential advantages of the door to door shipping service in air cargo are as below:
- Transit cargo to all parts of the country and the world
- Enjoy high speed in intercity service and transportation
- Calculate the cost of freight based on the weight and size of the goods, which saves costs
- Inquire about the status of the load via SMS and email
There are many international companies which do it for you. However, many people believe that a Chinese freight forwarder is the best choice! It may come to the mind why is it better to choose a Chinese freight forwarder?! The rest of this article is devoted to this matter!
Who is a Chinese freight forwarder?
Before we start to talk about why a Chinese freight forwarder is the best option, it is better to have a quick look at this term’s meaning.
A Chinese freight forwarder (and a freight forwarder in general) is a person who promised you as a customer to deal with all warehousing, the process of transportation, preparing shipping and customs clearance, and deliver the packages to the destination mentioned in the contract.
Advantages of choosing a Chinese freight forwarder
This section is devoted to choose a Chinese freight forwarder for air cargo.
It is cheap!
As you know, one of the essential matters for every businessmen and businesswoman is the price. The lower the price, the cheaper it is, the customers prefer the more. There are many international companies in China, but because they are forced to pay the international tax, the price is more than local companies.
A Chinese freight forwarder may be familiar with tax-free products in many fields compared to international ones. Then she/he can offer the lowest price to the customers.
A Chinese freight forwarder knows the Chinese language!
One of the most critical factors in China is the language. Although many people in China can speak English, you can better handle all affairs in warehousing and delivering goods if you know the Chinese language. Because all customers buy products from Chinese sellers, when you choose a Chinese freight forwarder, she/he can have a strong relationship with the supplier, making the way of goods transportation easier.
A Chinese freight forwarder is familiar with domestic rules!
China is a great country, and there are many cities with their suburbs in this great country. Each region in China has some domestic rules that it is essential to know them. Some important cities in China for freight forwarding are Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Ningbo.
For example, some rules in China make some products exempt from tax and duties. Then, a Chinese freight forwarder is entirely familiar with these domestic rules, and it has an essential factor in making the way of goods transportation easier. Therefore, you can reach all the packages sooner and cheaper than other international companies.
A Chinese freight forwarder delivers more quickly!
One of the essential reasons to choose a Chinese freight forwarder for air cargo is she/he is familiar with the region very well. In the process of freight forwarding, a Chinese freight forwarder needs to transport the packages by logistic transportation; of course, she/he should go to the warehouse chosen by the customer to take the goods.
Then, when you select a Chinese freight forwarder, as she/he is familiar with the routes very well, then a Chinese freight forwarder can do it quicker than other people who don’t know the region very well!
A Chinese freight forwarder cares about all your needs!
When you choose a Chinese freight forwarder, you can go to the office in person and see the freight forwarder. It is essential to have a healthy relationship with a Chinese freight forwarder, and you can tell all your worries in this field. It will help you feel better because all you understand is a Chinese freight forwarder.
For finding a Chinese freight forwarder, pay attention to these points:
- A Chinese freight forwarder must have a professional website, and everything must be clear on the website (check everything precisely and pay attention to details)
- It is better to search for some previous experience it the website. Usually, professional ones have this part in their websites
- A Chinese freight forwarder must offer the right insurance for the goods
- A Chinese freight forwarder must answer the emails quickly
- A Chinese freight forwarder must be legally registered
- A Chinese freight forwarder must know English too very well
All these things will help you to find the best ones!
How do I find a Chinese freight forwarder?
If you want to choose a Chinese freight forwarding, you can go to the Alibaba website. It is a reliable site!
Concluding Remarks
In this article, we discussed why to choose a Chinese freight forwarding for air cargo. As you understood so far, a Chinese freight forwarder provides many advantages for customers, and the most important of them are: “the Chinese language,” “quick delivery,” and “cheaper.”
All experts in China suggest that one of the best choices for shipping from China is to choose a Chinese freight forwarder. The DDPCH Group suggest to you that before taking any actions in goods transportation, it is better to consult with a professional company and collect more reliable information in this field.
DDPCH
Dear customers
If you need an impressive rate and competitive offer for Door to Door Rail and Trucking service from China to European countries, please contact our Sale Team.
How long does it take for air freight from China?
It takes 1 to 8 business days from China to all over the world.