Air Cargo

Air cargo, also known as air freight, is the shipment of goods by aircraft. It is the fastest mode of international freight transport, with typical transit times of one to five days between most global city pairs. Goods are loaded into unit load devices (ULDs) — aluminium containers or pallets shaped to fit aircraft holds — and transported on dedicated cargo aircraft or in the belly holds of passenger planes.

Air cargo is essential for goods where speed outweighs cost — pharmaceuticals, electronics, fashion, spare parts, and perishable foods. In Qatar, Hamad International Airport is a major air cargo hub, handling hundreds of thousands of tonnes annually. Its strategic location between Europe, Asia, and Africa makes it a natural transhipment point for air freight moving between these regions.

Air freight typically costs 4 to 8 times more per kilogram than sea freight. The decision to ship by air depends on product value (high-value goods justify air to reduce inventory carrying costs), urgency (deadline-driven shipments), perishability (fresh produce, vaccines), and volume (small quantities where a sea container would be underutilised). Many supply chains use a combination of sea and air freight, reserving air for urgent replenishments.