THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AIR CARGO AND AIR EXPRESS

Air Cargo and Air Express are two popular methods of shipping goods today. Both use airplanes for international transport, which can easily confuse customers. In this article, SmartLink will help you understand how to differentiate between Air Cargo and Air Express.

1. Air Cargo Transportation – Distinguishing Air Cargo and Air Express

Air Cargo is a method of transporting goods internationally by air, suitable for businesses that need fast delivery and high security. Besides air transport, customers can also choose other forms of transportation such as road, rail, and sea depending on their needs. The Air Cargo method has many advantages such as speed and safety, but it is quite expensive. Therefore, it is often used for high-value products and urgent deliveries, such as:

Perishable goods: fruits, food, frozen products.
Documents, letters, express mail and parcels.
Functional foods and pharmaceuticals.

2. Express Delivery (Air Express) – Differences Between Air Cargo and Air Express

Air Express is a form of transportation through global express delivery companies like UPS, DHL, TNT, and FEDEX. Goods shipped by Air Express must be packed in cartons and cannot use foam boxes or other bags. The transportation cost of Air Express is quite high, usually applied to packages under 100kg.

3. Similarities Between Air Cargo and Air Express

Both methods have the following similarities:

Use airplanes to transport international goods.
Fast speed, saving more time compared to sea transport.
High security for goods.
Lower transportation insurance costs due to lower risks.

4. Differentiating Air Cargo and Air Express

Form of Transport

Air Cargo: Handled directly by the transportation company in collaboration with the airline.
Air Express: Handled through global express delivery companies.

Weight of Goods

Air Cargo: For large packages over 100kg.
Air Express: Applied to packages under 100kg.

Packaging

Air Cargo: Goods are packed in cartons or sacks.
Air Express: Goods must be packed in cartons, not using foam boxes or bags.

Cost

Air Cargo: More cost-effective compared to Air Express.
Air Express: High cost, only applied to packages under 100kg.

Tracking Shipments

Air Cargo: No specific tracking number for each package, customers need the support of the transportation company to track.
Air Express: Has a tracking number for each shipment, making it easy to track the status of goods.

Transport Speed

Air Cargo: Occasionally delayed or offloaded depending on the airline’s flight.
Air Express: Has daily flights for goods transportation.

Although both use air transportation, Air Cargo and Air Express have certain differences. Hopefully, through this article, you can clearly distinguish between the two shipping methods and choose the suitable one for your needs.

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If you require assistance with international import and export of goods, please contact our team at Smartlink Logistics. We are available to provide you with professional guidance on our services and the necessary customs procedures.

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