China Air Freight Shipping

Air freight is a safe and efficient way for immediate transportation. Air cargo always has high value-to-weight or have a severe timeline.

Here this page will guide you to China air freight, including the advantages, cargo types, a sample airway bill, shipping process, china main airports list and more.

Air Freight Terminology

AWB

Air Waybill, is a non-negotiable transport document issued by the carrier (Master AWB) or the agent (House AWB), which indicating that the carrier has accepted the goods listed therein and obligates itself to carry the consignment to the airport of destination according to specified conditions.

IATA

International Air Transport Association, which supports airline activity and helps formulate industry policy and standards of the world’s airlines.

ETD: Estimated Time of Departure
ATD: Actual Time of Departure
ATA: Actual Time of Arrival
ETA: Estimated Time of Arrival

ETT
Estimated Transit Time is for estimation purposes only and commonly can NOT be guaranteed although most shipments will depart and arrive as scheduled.

Dangerous Goods
Commodities classified by IATA according to its nature and characteristic in terms of the effect of its danger to carrier’s flying safety.

Dimensional Weight
Aka Chargeable Weight or Billable Weight. Carrier charge for freight based on the dimensional weight or actual gross weight whichever is higher.

MOQ
The MOQ is 45 kgs. The rate class is +45kg, +100kg, +300kg, +500kg, +1000kg. The courier cost less if < 100kg for most destination countries.

ULD
You can simply take it as air container just like sea container. Not much attention needs to pay.

* If the cargo exceeds above the weight and volume, the carrier can determine the allowable maximum limit and volume cargo base on the flight model, departure and destination airport handling equipment conditions.

Air Freight Advantages

The best thing with air shipment is speed.

In general, the transit time from China is no longer than 10 working days. Only 3~5 days in most cases. This is a vast reduction compared to ocean freight. Nowadays, the fast delivery time alone can make a huge impact on a business niche.

Please note that air freight is just to-airport delivery. You or the freight agent needs to handle the customs clearance and inland transportation to your warehouse, while courier services such as DHL/FedEx/UPS/TNT can be the one stop to-door delivery provider.

• Air freight = airport-to-airport
• Air courier = door-to-door

	Air Freight	Air Express/Courier
Weight	100 - 3000 kgs	0.5 - 150 kgs
Volume	> 1 cbm	< 1 cbm
Transit Time	2 - 7 days	2 - 5 days
Upon Arrival Airport	None	Clearance and to-door delivery

Air Cargo Types

By cargo properties, they can be divided into

• General cargo
• Special cargo

1. General cargo

Such as electronics, Jewelry, pharmaceuticals, wristwatches are high value. The electronics industry accounts for around 40% of the value of the entire international air cargo industry.

They need to be transported in a very good condition. The air shipping cost more than sea shipping, but means nothing compared to the value amount of products.

2. Special cargo

Including living animals, goods that are dangerous or need temperature control. For example, some chemicals are dangerous goods, and seafood that requires refrigeration and freezing during the whole-course cold chain transportation.

Perishable or hazardous goods are subject to different regulations, compared to general cargo. They have to pass through various inspections and need to meet numerous requirements, and not every airline can accept these items.

Make sure that you advise in detail about special goods you want to ship. Because leaving out any detail might lead to penalties/extra fees and denial of shipment.
Most of the special cargo can be classified as general after tested by the authority. And there should be a report – Identification and Classification Report for Air Transport of Goods shown to the carrier before loading.

2.1 Powder
2.2 Chemical
2.3 With oil or liquid
2.4 With battery
2.5 With magnet (needs magnet test)
2.5.1 Audio accessory and equipment
2.5.2 With motor inside

Other restrictions will apply due to national laws and regulations of specific airlines.
Please note that most of the airlines are saying NO to the following names or descriptions of the commodity: Lithium Battery Toys, Scooter, Hoverboard, Power Supply, Power Bank, Air Bag, Electric Board, Electronic Board.

Dimensional Weight

Air cargo rate is calculated by chargeable weight, measurement unit is kilogram. The measurement unit of valuable cargo is 0.1 kg. Chargeable weight is the heavier one between gross weight and dimensional weight.

	Volume Unit	Dimensional Weight
By air freight	cm³	Volume/6000
By express courier	cm³	Volume/5000

* If the weight is less than 21 kg, then the minimum chargeable unit is 0.5 kg; If more than 21 kg, then 1 kg.
* To calculate air goods volume L x W x H in inches divided by 366 = weight in kilograms

We have detailed this topic via here.

Air Waybill (AWB) Sample

If you have read our blog about Bill of Lading, you can also understand the AWB. AWB is almost the same structure as Ocean Bill of Lading (OBL).

An Air Waybill is a documentary proof of the contract of carriage between the shipper and the carrier.

It also serves as:

• a delivery receipt
• a receipt of goods for shipment
• a document required for Customs clearance
• a form of invoice for the carriage of the goods
• an insurance certificate (if the insurance cover was arranged through the airline)
• a dispatch note, bearing a list of all accompanying documents, and any special instructions given by the shipper

Difference between AWB and OBL

The rule of AWB played in an international shipping is almost the same as OBL, but AWB doesn’t serve as a document of title. This is the most significant difference.

The words non-negotiable are printed at the top of the Air Waybill, and must not be changed or removed.

The AWB will be delivered with the air cargo. So as soon as the plane departs from the loading airport, the cargo rights will be transferred to the consignee. The consignee can only show their identification to claim the shipments. The AWB cannot be transferred. That’s why you have to pay freight costs before departure from China.

“Rate Charge”

There’s a column called “Rate Charge” in the middle of an AWB. This rate will be automatically generated by the airlines according to IATA, and can NOT be modified. The charge shown is higher than you really paid.

This is the all-in billable weight rate, calculated by:

• GCR (General Cargo Rate)
• SCR (Specific Commodity Rate)
• CCR (Commodity Classification Rate or Class Rate)
• BUC (Bulk Unitization Charge)

Air cargo tracking

Each AWB has its unique number. You can find this number on the head section. By submitting the number on the tracking page of the airline’s official website, all updated tracking information will be available.

The bill format is 2 airline code + 3 numbers as prefix + several numbers. Example, Air China Cargo, CA as the airline code, 999 as prefix.

Tracking & Tracing from Air China Cargo

Some carriers will provide a free service called email alert. When the goods moved, the updated status will be sent to you shortly. Take advantage of that.

Top 10 International Airports in China

In international air transport, there are standard short name of each airport created by IATA. The airport short name is formed by three capitalized letters for easy recognition.

PEK – Beijing Capital International Airport
HKG – Hongkong International Airport
CAN – Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CA/QR/TK/EY/MS/NH to Middle East and Africa)
PVG – Shanghai Pudong International Airport
SHA – Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
CTU – Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport
SZX – Shenzhen Baoan International Airport (CA/HU/CZ/MU to Europe and North America)
KMG – Kunming Changshui International Airport
XIY – Xi’an Xianyang International Airport
HGH – Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport