According to air logistics experts, there seems to be a lack of clarity in people's understanding of air freight. The general perception is that goods are placed into containers following specific guidelines before being loaded onto the aircraft's cargo warehouse, similar to the process used for shipping containers.
The airline cargo loading process involves the use of specialized boards that are designated for loading purposes. These boards are uniquely identified using specific numbers, which enable tracking of the goods that are loaded onto them.
When it comes to freight forwarding companies, signing a board package agreement with an airline is a smart move that can greatly benefit their business. These agreements allow the company to have more control over how goods are allocated and rebubbled, which can ultimately result in higher profits. However, such agreements are typically only offered to companies that have a strong source of customer supply, as well as a solid business and shipping/booking strength. For those that do have these qualities, signing a board agreement with an airline demonstrates their ability to operate and compete at a high level within the industry.
To find the specifications for the board, you can simply visit the website of the respective airline. The board comes in different sizes, such as the large board measuring 318*244 and the small board measuring 318*224. The requirements for using the board vary depending on the class you choose. If you opt for a low board, it can accommodate up to 1.6M in height. Generally, both low and large boards have a capacity of 8-10 cubic meters for goods, depending on whether they are pallets or bulk cargo. On the other hand, medium and high boards are designed for 747 freighters, with a flat height of 2.4M. If you need to transport goods using an MD11 freighter, the closure height usually ranges from 1.6M, subject to the specific model and airline requirements.
Currently, the responsibility of air cargo packaging falls on the shoulders of freight forwarding and packaging companies. For customers, it is important to simply understand this concept. When it comes to settling bills, both airlines and freight forwarding companies do it on a board basis. By filling each board to its maximum capacity, a significant amount of air freight costs can be saved. This also leads to customers reaping the benefits of cost reduction. Air freight lines predominantly utilize package boards (package warehouses), which partially explains why air freight lines are cheaper than general air freight.