Isaac Air Freight

What Does the Future Hold for the Chinese Air Freight Industry?

2009-05-28T22:49:00.000-07:00

Recent figures show that China is the fastest growing aviation market in the world. Indeed, between 204 and 2005 China's air freight volume increased by 25% and 20% respectively. Furthermore, passenger traffic also grew considerably in this period.

However, shortage of available freighters is threatening to restrict the growth of China's air freight industry. According to the vice President of China's largest air freight forwarding company,

"We want to expand as fast as possible ... But it is very difficult to find aircraft at the moment."

One way around the problem of freighter shortages is to use other aircraft, like the B777 which are new freighters with very good fuel efficiency. However, these types of freight planes are unlikely to be available for the next couple of years.

Other options that some of China's large freight forwarding companies are looking into is to expand their road feeder services. This would enable them to create a network across the country which could be integrated with their air freight services.

Furthermore, opportunities will be created by the expansion of Beijing Capital International airport along with the Simplified Customs Clearance Procedure. These two factors will combine to accelerate the growth of the air freight business in China.

Although the growth rate of China's air freight sector is expected to slow down this in 2006, it will not stop completely. According to experts in the freight industry, Chinese air freight cargo volumes are predicted to increase by 10% in 2006. If this does happen then China's air freight volume will be 3.36 million tons. This means that it will still be a dominant player in the global air freight market.

On a similar note, air passenger numbers are also likely to grow. Industry insiders estimate that air passenger numbers will rise by 15%. If this increase takes place then around 159 million people will travel by aeroplane out of China this year.

GBS Freight is a UK freight forwarding company

Air Freight Forwarding Companies Involved In Price Fixing

2009-04-25T01:28:00.000-07:00

A worldwide investigation has been launched into alleged fuel price fixing by the air freight forwarding industry. Eleven major freight carrying airlines are being accused of trying to fix fuel price surcharges for freight forwarding flights. Amongst the airlines being accused of price fixing are British Airways, United Airlines and Lufthansa.

The airlines are being sued for fuel price fixing by a Tanzanian firm which had used KLM as a freight forwarding company to transport wood carvings to New York. The company, Sisimizi which is based in Dar-Es-Salaam in Tanzania, is seeking unspecified damages from a number of major airlines which act as freight forwarding companies. The complaint about fuel price fixing by leading airlines was filed on February 28 in US District Court for the Northeastern District of Illinois.

According to Julius Maldutis, the president of consulting firm Aviation Dynamics:

"This is going to be a very big issue because all the airlines increased the price of their cargo business concurrently".

According to recent reports, Lufthansa has offered to cooperate with US federal prosecutors who are investigating the claim that price-fixing is taking place in the global airline freight forwarding industry.

Legal experts claim that by offering to co-operate with the authorities, Lufthansa could protect itself from possible criminal charges. This is most likely to be the case if it provides evidence against other air freight forwarding companies.

The investigation into allegations of fuel price fixing became public in February this year. At this time, authorities in Europe, Asia and the United States raided offices of a number of the world's major airlines. They also requested information from other air freight forwarding companies. The crux of their investigations rests on the claim that air freight forwarders conspired to fix fuel surcharges and other fuel related costs. A number of airlines have been asked to provide evidence and most have said that they are co-operating with these requests.

GBS Freight is a freight forwarding company with over twenty years industry experience.

Cleaning Air Cargo Containers

2009-04-02T22:28:00.000-07:00

If you own a pressure washing business, janitorial service or truck washing business you owe it to yourself to look into the cleaning of air cargo containers. The cleaning of air-cargo containers is a necessity and it is a consistent business. These containers must be cleaned off to protect the contents inside. In our company we have established an industrial division from our car and truck washing business, The Car Wash Guys, which specializes in unique type cleaning. The Car Wash Guys industrial division specializes in steam cleaning of air cargo containers, ground equipment and loading docks. If you wish to get into this lucrative line of cleaning there are some things you will need. We maintain excessive insurance liability coverage to work on airports, excessive worker’s compensation insurance, business licenses and state and county wastewater permits.

Although this sounds like a lot of paperwork it is not as difficult as it sounds and due to all these requirements it means these barriers to entry deter competition. Luckily for some businesses the government’s intense bureaucracy helps you beat your competitors. Of course, we know that “price is king”. Unless we have the lowest price or a very fair price, all the credentials in the world are meaningless. So here are some suggestions on cleaning prices for Cargo Containers:

Small – On maintenance program $2.00 each

Small – Very dirty $5.00 each

Large – On maintenance program $5.00 each

Large – With corrosion and dirty $10.00 each

Loading Docks Steam Cleaning is also a great business in that in a given industrial area there may be over 500 loading bays available for cleaning. We suggest a low cost high volume pricing strategy:

One Stall $10.00 each

Multiple Stalls $8.00 each

Ground Equipment at airports is parked all over the ramp, many pieces of equipment and if you charge by the unit you may find yourself cleaning hundreds of pieces of equipment in a single visit.

Small Units $3.00 each

Pick-ups/Vans $ 8.00 each

Bobtails/Scissor Trucks $15.00 to $25.00 each

Yes, those are low prices, but that’s how you secure large accounts, which will lead to more work around industrial areas and airports. Before your pressure washing company or cleaning service will be chosen to do such accounts you must convince your potential customer that you believe in:

Strict adherence to scheduling

Consistency of quality

Image of equipment and crew

Safety procedures

These are nearly as important as price. We really believe that because in the service business you either give good service or perish. So for twenty years that’s what we’ve done. I hope you’ll take this advice and follow it, as it uplifts the industry the more professional companies there are out there and together we also add a safety net to the new Homeland Security paradigm. Think on this.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Tips When Choosing Air Cargo Service

2009-03-26T05:43:00.000-07:00

The definition of air cargo service is simple. It is simply the extra advantages that a cargo transportation service will offer to their customers. Many of these companies have a large list of services that they offer, depending on the type of airline. If a company is responsible for transporting passengers, then their service list will look different than that of a company involved in transporting goods.

Each company decides what services to offer to its customers. Some companies offer more services than others. Services offered to passenger airlines can include: baggage handling, ticket verification, skycap, unaccompanied minor escorts, wheelchair services, and many more. Services offered as part of freight shipping services can include things such as, road feeder services between different airports and airport to inland container depots, air cargo clearance centers, centers for perishable cargo, and warehousing for bonded and non bonded air cargo.

Another important service for these companies is document control. If documents for it are not always one hundred percent in line, then things are much more likely to go wrong. A good air cargo company will ensure that all the documents for their cargo are in order.

With the increased safety requirements imposed on this industry and the world in general since 2001, it has been harder and more expensive to ship goods by air. Containers can only be a certain size, weight limits are different, only so many toxic materials can be sent on a plane at once; it is astonishing how many new restrictions the industry has received since then. With these newer restrictions on cargo airlines, it is more important than ever to choose a company that offers reliable air cargo service options to the client, for whom they are hauling cargo.

A very important service that a cargo airline should offer is the service of air cargo tracking. Being able to track a shipment, and knowing where it is at any given time is invaluable to the business or company that is shipping the goods. Knowing what fees are charged for what goods is also important before picking a shipping airline. Additionally, it is extremely important to be aware of what goods are legal to ship through the air and which are not. A cargo agent will usually handle these kinds of issues if the business has one employed.

It is important when choosing a cargo airline to ensure that they give appropriate air cargo service. The little extra features that a company offers can really make the difference between a pleasant shipping experience and a horrible one. Also, always be aware of the airport security laws, what is legal to ship by air, and what type of containers are necessary to ship certain goods by air. Good companies will aide you greatly in these decisions.

Visit Mike Selvon portal for more information on air cargo service, and leave a comment at our air freight services blog. Don't forget to claim your FREE gift.

Learning About Air Cargo Carriers

2009-03-20T22:39:00.000-07:00

If you want to do business with air cargo companies, then it is necessary to be informed about the different types of air cargo carriers that they might be using. There are many things to learn about cargo planes; things such as, how much space each plane has, what kind of prices are charged when shipping using the planes, what kinds of planes they use, and many other things. With all the information available, it is good to know at least a little about cargo airlines and their operations.

Air transport is essential to manage and control the flow of goods, energy, information, and other vital resources needed for commerce and other types of services. Without air cargo services, it would be impossible to do any kind of global trading, import/export processes, or repositioning of raw materials and products, unless using the services of ocean freight.

Air transport has also streamlined several business processes, such as making it easier to receive information, the speed of transportation, faster exchanges of inventory, and many others. There are many different kinds of cargo planes out there. Some of these include the Boeing 707, Douglas DC-8, Ilyushin Il-76, and Douglas DC-3. Some air cargo companies are starting to modify turboprop planes to be used as cargo carriers as well.

The Boeing 747-400 is one of the most often used air cargo carriers. It can hold most types of cargo with ease and has an area available to hold around 26,000 cubic feet of freight and/or cargo. While these planes are used to move most types of cargo, when larger payloads need to be transported, even bigger cargo planes are used by the air cargo companies.

These super transporters can carry around 47 tons of freight, but believe it or not, there are even bigger cargo planes. The largest cargo plane is the Antonov AN-225 and it is used to haul items, such as helicopters or tanks. It is very useful in this application as it can hold around 250 tons.

Now you know a little something about air cargo carriers that you might not have known before. It is interesting to find out the importance of something that you might not otherwise think about.

It is also very important for a freight shipping company to know all this transport information to run their businesses. Now, whether you are looking to ship something by air cargo, gain a position at a cargo airline or perhaps answer trivia game questions, you will have some of the answers.

Visit Mike Selvon portal for more information on air cargo carriers, and leave a comment at our air freight services blog. Don't forget to claim your FREE gift.

Future Growth of Air Freight in the World Markets

2009-03-20T05:17:00.000-07:00

As we study the future of world markets, we see a very nice future for air freight. By 2025 we will most likely see an 85% increase and that will mean converting older aircraft and retrofitting them. And it will mean good things for Boeing and Airbus.

I expect many current aircraft flying passengers and taken out of capacity as this current sector rotation rounds out (fuel prices will increase that) and new more efficient aircraft come onto the scene. I predict that 66% of the growth will come from conversion of current passenger aircraft while there will be 33% new aircraft which do not require pilots at all. Flying freight around the world.

This will mean a market of over 170 Billion in retrofits and new aircraft for people like Pimco and Timco and others. If you look at these numbers you can see a future for laid off aerospace workers from Everett, Wichita, Dayton, Long Beach and other locations. With these aging aerospace workers it will most likely mean a need for newer entrants into that labor force. We would also say that 40% of such growth would be to service North America and her growing middle class as they partake in products from world markets.

With this increase we could expect the current 1700 plus air freight fleet to grow to over 3200 by 2025. Although these are long-term predictions they do account for normal cycles such as 15 year cycles or 2-3 year economic cycles. Also GE will benefit along with component makers of aircraft parts.

Even with the competition from Airbus we will see factories on US soil as well as components being made in other Asian markets, meaning the entire world will benefit from this sector in the next two-decades.

New Advances for the UK Air Freight Industry

2009-03-12T00:50:00.000-07:00

As with so many other sectors, it seems that the future of freight forwarding is online. The internet has long been hailed for the convenience it offers. It is therefore perhaps unsurprising that the UK air freight industry has decided to explore the potential it offers by introducing new electronic processes.

E-freight, as it is being called, is all about replacing traditional paper documents with electronic ones for the transportation of cargo. The aim is to streamline and simplify air fright forwarding. Using electronic processes will of course also offer considerable cost savings.

In the short term, the companies taking part in the trial will actually lose rather than save money. This is because they will have to run electronic and paper processes in conjunction with one another. However, in the longer term, using e-methods will cut down on the considerable amount of paperwork required for air freight transportation.

The other advantage of using electronic documenting methods is that there is less room for error. It also helps cut down on the level of administration required. In fact, it is expected that billions of pounds could be saved in terms of administration costs alone.

Of course e-ticketing is already widely used by passengers traveling around the world. Most people now arrive at an airport with an ‘e-ticket’ that they have printed off their home or work computers. As a result airlines do not have to send out paper tickets in advance of travel which costs them money and of course run the risk of getting lost in the post.

In fact over 90% of all passenger tickets issued in the UK are electronic (although this figure is much higher for some carriers) and they cost the airlines considerably less than paper tickets. The average paper ticket costs an airline £5 whilst an e-ticket only costs it 50 pence!

GBS Freight runs an air freight forwarder service and also transports cargo around the world by sea and road.

Air Freight - Give Your Package The Room To Fly

2009-03-03T22:16:00.000-08:00

Was it really so long ago when flying was still a novelty. What am I saying, there are people walking around this earth that don't have a clue about cooking on a stove, so how could they ever conceive of a time without flight. So humans wanted to fly, and even though they were born without wings, that was just a minor detail that they would eventually overcome. Eventually the airplane became a reality, and not only that, but time and technology made it possible for other people to ride the plane besides the pilot. But humans are restless, and began thinking of other ways to use the air plane.

One of the ideas for using a plane, was to allow them to carry freight. History was made in November of 1910, when a department store shipped a bolt of silk by air from Dayton to Columbus, Ohio. This was considered the first demonstration of air freight. In 1919, American Railway Express used a converted bomber to ship 1100 pounds of freight from Washington, D.C. to Chicago; unfortunately, the radiator froze and the plane had to land in Ohio, but that didn't stop the company from continuing to use planes as a way to move their freight. In the late 1920s, many airlines were known to be freight carriers. The invention of air freight was great for American business, not only did it allow them to get parts and merchandise quicker, but the speed of the process meant that businesses didn't have to keep as much inventory on hand.

As with any great idea, the early stages of the air freight industry saw tremendous growth. In 1927, only 45,000 pounds were shipped, but by 1931, that number had grown to over one million pounds a year. Although there were some attempts at organizing the air freight industry early on, the first commercial airlines that were all cargo did not happen until after World War II. In March of 1941, the top four airlines; United, American, Eastern and TWA formed Air Cargo, Inc., to deliver freight. Air Cargo operated during most of the war, and continued on until 1944. Near the end of the war, many of the airlines, including TWA and United, decided to start their own independent air freight services.

Many small plane operators wanted to join the air freight industry, but they weren't welcomed. The big airlines made it clear that they didn't want the small plane operators in the business. The big airlines believed that the small plane operators would make the industry unstable; plus, they really didn't want any competition. There were a few small plane operators that tried, but practically all of them fell by the wayside. But there was one small plane operator that survived, its name was Flying Tiger. Flying Tiger was owned by Robert Prescott, who was a "Flying Tigers" pilot during the war. Flying Tiger was able to survive because it delivered both civilian and military freight. During the 1960s, Flying Tiger became the largest air freight airline in the country.

Despite great hopes, especially after a tremendous start, the air freight industry wasn't growing as expected. It wasn't until the 1980s that someone tried to put a new spin on air freight; and that person was Fred Smith. Fred didn't believe the way the air freight industry was doing business was efficient or good for business and he opened up his own air freight business in Memphis, and named it Federal Express. A major plus for customers who chose Federal Express, was that they offered guaranteed next-day delivery. Within ten years of operations, Federal Express reported revenues of one billion dollars. In 1989, Federal Express bought Flying Tiger. The two companies were merged together to create the world's largest full-service all cargo airline.

Today, Federal Express is joined by United Parcel Service, which got its start back in 1907, as two of the more trusted and reliable air freight delivery services.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Air Freigh

Air Freight - Give Your Package The Room To Fly

2009-03-03T01:24:00.000-08:00

Today, Federal Express is joined by United Parcel Service, which got its start back in 1907, as two of the more trusted and reliable air freight delivery services.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Air Freigh

Global Warming - What are International Air Freight Companies Doing to Alleviate It?

2009-02-23T00:32:00.000-08:00

The international air freight industry is at the center of some controversy surrounding global warning and what can be done in order to prevent it from increasing?

For many years it has only been scientists, environmental charities and eco warriors who have been concerned about the greenhouse effect and for the majority of us we did not think that us or our grandchildren would be troubled by the results of us polluting the earth.

But things have now changed and most world leader's have put the environmental problem at the top of their agendas and this has moved the subject very much into main stream public debate. There have been green taxes implemented as well as getting people to buy unleaded petrol instead of the leaded version. As we are now seeing we are all being affected by the damage done to our environment and so we now need to do something about it before it is too late.

However the air freight industry is being challenged to become more green and there are a number of International Air Freight Companies who have introduced what is known as "offset policies". So what this means is that every time some cargo is flown around the world the International Air Freight Company in question is investing a certain amount of money into environmental projects as well.

But there are some critics of these companies who say that this is simply not good enough and that they should in fact be trying to reduce the carbon emissions that their aircraft produce rather than just doing something good for the environment in order to balance the books.

Reports are showing that carbon emissions were expected to reach 25 billion tons in 2006 and of this amount between 4-7% would be caused by air travel which includes air freight in this figure.

An agreement signed by many European countries known as the Kyoto Protocol Agreement are committed to reducing the carbon emissions for signatory countries and it aims to do this by setting limits for 2008-2012. Unfortunately the USA declined not to sign the agreement.

But there is hope that this agreement along with the offset policies being adopted by a lot of the international air freight company's will produce the changes that this planet so desperately needs.

Evert DuToit is a writer and website publisher from Pittsburgh, PA. For more information about the air freight industry, and international air freight, visit us at airfreight.information-pages.biz.

Air Freight Is Under Attack by Environmentalists

2009-02-17T22:48:00.000-08:00

Five or ten years ago having strawberries in the middle of winter was seen as a real treat ad they were so expensive.

Nowadays however, the supermarkets are not only able to offer a wide variety of fruits out of season, they are also able to slash the prices on them. This means that eating raspberries in December is an affordable option for more and more people.

The reason they are able to do this is because it has become cheaper and easier to fly fruit into the UK from around the world.

Whilst many people are only too happy to indulge in these off season delicacies, the air freight industry has come under attack recently by green campaigners. These people are concerned about the impact on the environment of importing out of season produce into the UK.

They argue that the air freight industry is producing unnecessary levels of pollution as a result of the demand for off season fruit and vegetables. Some have even gone so far as to demand a ban on the air-freighting of certain foods.

Although most politicians are not in favour of such a ban, some have suggested introducing a food miles scheme. This would involve labeling food to indicate how many miles it has traveled before reaching the UK.

The labels would be in effect an indication of the environmental cost of eating or buying certain foods. The idea is that food labels would allow the public to make an informed choice about what they buy rather than imposing choices on them.

So how has the freight industry responded to these charges and ideas?

Freight representatives have argued that:

1. The pollution generated by air transportation only accounts for a small amount of the UK's total carbon emissions.

2. The freighting of out of season produce only accounts for a tiny percentage of the total food produce imported into the UK every year.

GBS Freight is a freight forwarding company based in the UK that transports cargo around the world by air, sea and roa

The Air Freight Industry and Food Miles Debate

2009-02-14T04:48:00.000-08:00

The air freight industry is under attack by The Soil Association and other green campaigners who are worried about the environmental impact of importing out of season produce into the UK from abroad. They claim that the damage caused by pollution from flights transporting food around the world supports their call for a ban on the air-freighting of certain food.

The freight industry has responded strongly to this argument by explaining that the gases produced by air freight transportation only account for a small percentage of the UK?s total carbon emissions. Plus the transportation of out of season food stuffs into the UK represents a small proportion of the total food produce flown into the country.

Furthermore, organic food which is being particularly targeted by The Soil Association requires around 15% less energy to farm than the same amount of non-organic food.

The issue is clearly a contentious one. Climate change is a very real problem as freak weather patterns around the globe are demonstrating. As a result, green issues are at the top of the political agenda of all of the major parties in Britain.

This is a reflection of the concern that the public at large has been shown to have for this issue. The government is therefore under pressure to address the electorate?s concerns and make some changes which may affect the freight industry in a negative way.

One of the measures that they are considering is labeling food to show the amount of miles it has had to travel to get to the UK. These ?food miles? as they are called are meant to be an indication of the environmental cost of bring a particular item into the country. The other option that they are considering is the proposal put forward by The Soil Association to ban the importation of organic food by air freight.

GBS Freight is a freight forwarding company based in the UK that transports cargo around the world by air, sea and road.

By Whom And How Are Air Freight Rates Calculated?

2009-02-10T22:08:00.000-08:00

The pricing of air freight is governed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) who continues to provide an "Official Rates Policy" which they publish under the title of "The Air Cargo Tariff" (TACT) along with their rules governing transportation. The air freight rates are generally derived from meetings that are held between IATA Regional Tariff Committees and which are subject to international inter-governmental agreements on rate levels by route or country. Those air freight companies who wish to introduce or apply a new rate require the permission of IATA and these rates can often be subject to the relevant country's government approval. But now generally they are used as guide lines and often no attempt is made by either IATA or governments to enforce their use.

However today IATA tariffs are being increasingly ignored by the many air freight companies on the major routes because there is so much competition, but they still continue to provide a general guideline for those lesser developed markets around the world. Often where most commodities are concerned an air freight rate of a charge per kilo of cargo is applied (and discounts are provided for volumes over 100 and 500 kilos).

Although there are specific commodity rates available these are the exception and are lower than normal rates as they are designed to encourage certain types of cargo to be air freighted on specific trade routes. What would happen is a given commodity and its rate would be filed by the air freight company to IATA and they in turn would obtain permission to apply that commodity rate on a given route to the relevant countries' government.

Also in addition to the specific commodity rates there are class rates which are for such commodities as human remains, live animals and perishable cargo (fresh food etc) and there are specific rules that need to be applied for calculating the charges for each type of commodity that is shown under this list. But generally the rules are based on the country of origin, were the goods are destined for and what type of product it is.

There are also air freight handling rates which are based on weight for non unit load traffic and per unit for unit loads and these rates used to be set by IATA but more often than not are now set between the handling terminals.

However the majority of air cargo leaving the UK uses "net" airline buying rates and these are confidential air freight rates and these rates follow a similar structure to the IATA rates in that there is a rate per kilo but they are subject to a minimum charge.

Evert DuToit is a writer and website publisher from Pittsburgh, PA. For more information about the air freight industry, and the factors that affect air freight rates, visit us at airfreight.information-pages.biz

What is Air Freight Charter?

2009-02-07T01:30:00.000-08:00

Air freight charter consists of a number of different commercial organizations that provide freight handling services around the world using airplanes and can mainly be found within the private sector which is a highly competitive environment.

Air freight charters services are operators who have their own aircraft and use the belly hold to carry cargo as part of a door to door service for shippers and importers of goods around the globe.

There are some air freight charter services which can arrange for the transportation of heavy or outsized cargo and this can be done in one consignment for the customer so avoiding delays and losses to them when a piecemeal shipment needs to be sent.

There are also air freight charter services which can arrange for the transportation of relief or aid cargo at times of international emergencies and disasters as scheduled airlines will most likely not have access to convenient airports so for many Aid Organisations the chartering of an aircraft is the ideal solution in order to get both equipment and personnel to locations fast.

There are many companies around the world who use air freight charter in order to have fresh produce or perishable goods delivered to the required locations on time as they often have aircraft specially designed to take such goods and it also avoids the delays associated with scheduled airlines.

Many people are now using air freight charters in order to transport "must go" cargo around the world in order to meet deadlines. This is especially important if a penalty clause applies to late delivery or a company is suffering large losses because of delays.

Also air freight charter is being used for the transportation of dangerous and hazardous goods which need to be segregated from other cargo and kept at their optimum condition. Plus it is also being used for the transportation of livestock as there are many air freight companies who have planes which have been adapted to carry such animals as rhinos, antelopes, horses etc., and it is important that the livestock is transported in a short period time (to prevent them too much stress) as well as providing them with conditions that are comfortable whilst on route.

Another reason for using air charter freight is that you can by pass airline procedures and be able to fly to the airport which is closest to the destination where your goods need to be.

So as you can see there are many reasons for using air freight charter when moving goods around the world.

Evert DuToit is a writer and website publisher from Pittsburgh, PA. Find out more about the air freight industry and specifically about air freight charters at his website at airfreight.information-pages.biz

What Is Air Freight Tracking?

2009-01-27T02:24:00.000-08:00

Air freight tracking is a service that is provided by many air freight companies in order for their customers to have the information relating to where their freight is at any one time from the moment it leaves their location to the moment it arrives at its destination.

Many people are able to visit the freight company's site and just by entering your waybill details you should be able to have the exact location of where your package is at that time.

However if you carried out a search of the internet by keying in "air freight tracking" you will find a myriad of sites listed who can find out where your goods are by you either keying in your way bill details or just by clicking on the Air Freight Company that is transporting your goods for you.

There are many companies around the world suggest as UPS who are a single source provider and they can provide people with instant access to their world wide network by allowing them to use their advanced air freight tracking and visibility system which will help people to manage their shipments from departure to delivery.

There are also a number of companies who offer a software package which many sites use for people to enter their air freight in order to track their goods. Below are details of one such package.

Magaya Live Track is the most revolutionary software product on the market today and it allows people to track cargo that is moved by companies that are part of the Magaya Network worldwide. This software allows you to view information such as pick up orders, warehouse receipts and cargo releases (very important for those who have strict deadlines they need to meet) immediately on line. As well as this they can view and print all the documentation that relates to their cargo in a clear and accurate format.

Whilst another company that offers air freight tracking is Trackweb which was set up in order to allow users to have access to the various websites of air freight carriers and shipping company websites and leads you straight to their specific tracking page. All the links they provide are direct to the companies tracking pages and can be accessed easily from any PC.

However, it is important to remember that when you are using an air freight tracking service you will need to provide details of either the waybill or invoice number in order to find out where your cargo is.

Evert DuToit is a writer and website publisher from Pittsburgh, PA. For more information about the air freight industry, and air freight tracking, visit us at airfreight.information-pages.biz.

Why Use An Air Freight Shipping Service?

2009-01-14T23:15:00.000-08:00

You have no other option and you must move your goods by air. But the challenge is to find an air freight shipping service that will meet your deadlines and can deliver to all the major centers around the world.

Using an air freight shipping service means that you are provided with global coverage and you can move international shipments with almost no size or weight limitations being placed on what you are asking to be delivered. Such shipping service companies will also have access to thousands of flights every day. Plus many of these companies will provide you with an online service in order for you to track your shipment.

There are many reasons why people are now using air freight shipping services and below are some of the features which make people decide to use them.

1. They provide you with guaranteed air freight services around the globe.

2. They will access to thousands of flights every day from all major airports.

3. They can provide you with a collection and delivery service.

4. There seems to be no limitation on the size of the cargo that they transport.

5. Will have tacking and reporting options which can be easily accessed online.

Also there are a number of benefits which come from using an air freight shipping service such as UPS.

1. They provide you with enhanced visibility of your shipment through the use of technology.

2. Can provide you with specific quotes for your delivery.

3. Are easily able to track and report on house air waybills, customer/internal reference numbers, shippers name, consignee name or even the item/part number that is being delivered.

4. Offer a streamline shipment booking service through a PC based shipment manifest system or online tools.

As you can see there are many advantages to be had from using a air freight shipping service and the main one seems to be that they have access to thousands of flights every day so if you need to get something somewhere urgently this may be the right service for you to use.

Evert DuToit is a writer and website publisher from Pittsburgh, PA. For more information about the air freight industry, and a guide to air freight services, visit us at airfreight.information-pages.biz.

UK Air Freight Company Services And Revenues Are

2008-11-03T01:45:00.000-08:00

In 2004 it was estimated that the UK Air Freight market was worth ?726.1m and most of this was attributed to international services and the domestic service is very limited as it is dominated by road transport operators.

British Airways which offers an air freight service as a by product of its passenger operations are the biggest provider of air freight capacity, but non-scheduled operations are beginning to grow quickly as well.

There are a number of positive influences in relation to the UK air freight companies and these are as follows:-

1. Growth in world trade and the chance of new markets opening up to businesses in the UK.
2. A reduction in the price of air freight rates as a result of competition between the various air freight companies.
3. The need for people to move goods around the world faster and more reliably.
4. The change in manufacturing processes which require the widespread adoption of just-in-time working practices.

Also the services provided by UK air freight companies have become an integral part of the efficient operation of the UK's economy today which is less vulnerable than some other markets due to recession.

Many of the UK Air Freight Company services can offer such things as door to door services as well as the more typical arrival airport only variations to many parts of the world. These companies are also likely to have specialist systems set up in order to handle hazardous commodities for some customers and will usually have an extensive network of agents around the world to ensure the smooth clearance of goods through Customs, as well as being able to deliver the goods almost anywhere that a customer wants.

Also many UK air freight companies have benefited from the growth in passenger travel as this now increases the amount of cargo capacity available. Because of this a worldwide network of cargo services has been created that offer the customer more ways to get their goods to the destination more quickly and efficiently.

Although the UK air freight company service market took a down turn after the attacks on the US in September 2001 but growth has resumed again and more people are looking at this as a viable way of transporting their goods efficiently and quickly.

Evert DuToit is a writer and website publisher from Pittsburgh, PA. Find out more about the air freight industry and specifically about Graf air freight at his website at http://www.airfreight.information-pages.biz.

Air Freight Tax - What Are The Charges?

2008-10-27T04:46:00.000-07:00

In the United States the Airport and Airway Trust Fund are providing funds for capital improvements to the US airport and airway system and in order to fund the aviation trust fund taxes have been imposed on both commercial and non-commercial aviation. Below we are going to look at air freight tax and what exactly it is with reference to the United States.

There are two types of taxes that are imposed on the air freight services as follows:
1. Waybill tax imposed on freight transportation.
2. Fuel taxes on gasoline and jet fuel for freight services (non commercial aviation)

1. Waybill Tax

In the United States air freight tax is charged on all domestic air cargo transportation at 6.25% ad valorem excise tax and this tax only applies to transportation that begins and ends in the United States. But unlike air passenger taxes the shippers are the ones liable for the air freight tax payment and so transportation providers are subject to penalties if they fail to make reasonable efforts to collect the tax that has been imposed. In the United States there is no disclosure requirement with regard to air freight tax and this tax expires after the 30 September 2007.

2. Fuel Tax Where freight services are concerned (non-commercial aviation) they are only subject to a fuel tax and the rates for both gasoline and jet fuel are shown below.

1. Non-commercial aviation is taxed at 19.4cents per gallon of aviation gasoline 2. Non-commercial aviation is taxed at 21.9cents per gallon on jet fuel.

Air freight companies also need to factor in an additional 0.1 cent leaking underground storage tank trust fund tax as well.

As you will soon discover that in order for air freight companies to make a profit they will usually include a surcharge on their quotations and bills to help towards the cost of the air freight tax that they are required to pay. So it is advisable when looking at using an air freight company in the future you read the small print of their contract in order to know exactly what you are paying for.

Evert DuToit is a writer and website publisher from Pittsburgh, PA. For more information about the air freight industry, and the cost of air freight, visit us at airfreight.information-pages.biz.

What Do Air Freight Carriers Do?

2008-10-20T23:49:00.000-07:00

An air freight carrier is an airline which is dedicated to the transportation of cargo and in some cases they may be a division or subsidiary of a larger passenger airline service such as BA, United Airlines etc.

The major companies known for their air freight carrier services are Federal Express or as they are now more commonly known Fed-Ex who commenced trading in 1973 and now have annual revenues of $21.4 billion. They employ over 140,000 staff worldwide and have access to more than 375 airports across the globe. Their main aircraft that they use in order to transport air freight are Airbuses, ATRs and Boeings (they have a total of 674 aircraft worldwide).

Then there is UPS who were founded in the US in 1907 and has now grown to a $42.6 billion corporation and since 1982 when UPS Air Cargo was set up to provide a way for customers to move their freight shipments. Although their all points international air hub is located in Louisville, Kentucky they do have other regional hubs located in strategic cities around the US and they operate an international service through their air hubs in Miami, Hamilton, Cologne, Taipei and the Philippines. Because of this they are able to manage the flow of goods to more than 200 countries and territories around the world.

Often these companies will use new or recently built aircraft in order to carry the freight, whilst some companies still prefer to use the old stables such as the Boeing 707, Boeing 727 and Douglas DC-8 to name but a few. There are even some old Douglas DC-3's (now more than 60 years old) still being used in order to not just carry cargo but passengers as well around the world.

In 2004 the total scheduled freight ton that was flown around the world amounted to 72,686 million and the largest of all the air freight carriers during this period was Federal Express with 14,579 million ton of freight. Whilst the total amount for international scheduled flights that was sent in 2004 amounted to 60,750 million ton and the domestic amount for the UK in this period amounted to 18,217 million tons.

Evert DuToit is a writer and website publisher from Pittsburgh, PA. For more information about the air freight industry, and what you should know about air freight carriers, visit us at airfreight.information-pages.biz

Air Filters - Everything You Need To Know About Air Filters

2008-10-14T01:17:00.000-07:00

Does your family suffer from allergies caused by dust and particles in the air? Want to know about air filters and what they can do to help you? First, it is advised that you replace indoor air with outdoor air. But how? You can open windows and doors, but still the risk is the air-borne problems. One of the best solutions is to keep a healthy and clean house to minimize and control unwanted substances. Usually, common airborne particles can range from .001 to 100 microns in size. Very small air-borne particles are so small that you may have a hard time removing them.

Cigarette smoke and household dust can eventually enter the lungs and may create complications. Air filters and cleaners are devices which help remove particles from the air, but not all. There are two groups of air cleaners. The first group is the portable air cleaners. They are also known as table-top models, and they are created to clean air in small places and locations but not the entire house. These air cleaners have filters and use electrical attraction or ozone to get rid of the minute particles from the air. The finer the particles, the better it is in removing these unwanted substances. HEPA or high efficiency particulate arresting filters is the best kind.

Almost 99 percent of the particles which are as small as 0.3 microns in size are captured. However, gas molecules like those from cigarette smoke and radon can still pass through the filter. Some companies have decided to use an activated charcoal or carbon filter to take care of the job. Pleated filters are also called ?mean? filters and they are composed of materials, which are similar to that of the HEPA. However, particles and dust may still get in. Remember, that the pleated filters capture smaller particles.

It is said that it removes 40 to 96 percent of household dust. Electrical attraction is utilized in electronic cleaners. Here, electrostatic precipitation, static charge, or particle ionization is used to capture particles through a foam pre-filter. With this, the larger particles are removed. Then the particles are charged by a high-voltage wire and are then attracted to the precipitating cell.

After this, a carbon filter gets rid of the odors and other particles. An electric cleaner utilizes cellulose fibers and polyester having a static charge to capture particles aside from the carbon and the pre-foam filter. Ozone generation is another type of air cleaner that also uses a high-voltage electrical charge to convert oxygen to ozone. With this, gas molecules and some substances or microorganisms like mold can be demolished by the high concentrations of ozone present. However, a negative ionizer also uses a foam pre-filter as well as a carbon filter. But, the difference lies in the wires. It has charged wires which, in turn, create ions.

Consequently, the fan blows these charged particles into the room and they are sucked in again. These different kinds of air filters and cleaners may give you a background on their features and which will best suit your needs.

Kathryn Whittaker has an interest in Health related topics. To access more articles on air filters or for additional information and resources visit this air filters related website.

What Air Freight Tax Charges Are There?

2008-07-24T23:42:00.000-07:00

There are two types of taxes that are imposed on the air freight services as follows:

1. Waybill tax imposed on freight transportation. 2. Fuel taxes on gasoline and jet fuel for freight services (non-commercial aviation)

1. Waybill Tax

2. Fuel Tax Where freight services are concerned (non-commercial aviation) they are only subject to a fuel tax and the rates for both gasoline and jet fuel are shown below.

1. Non-commercial aviation is taxed at 19.4cents per gallon of aviation gasoline 2. Non-commercial aviation is taxed at 21.9cents per gallon on jet fuel.

Air freight companies also need to factor in an additional 0.1 cent leaking underground storage tank trust fund tax as well.

Evert DuToit is a writer and website publisher from Pittsburgh, PA. For more information about the air freight industry, and the cost of air freight, visit us at airfreight.information-pages.biz.

What Is The Role Of An International Air Freight Forwarding Company?

2008-07-14T00:05:00.000-07:00

The role of an international air freight forwarding company is to provide their clients with their skills and expertise in order to arrange shipment of goods to over parts of the country or world. This allows the client to get on with the important job of producing the goods.

There are many benefits to be had from using an international air freight forwarding company and a few are provided below:-

1. From the beginning of an export order a commercial shipper can rely on the freight forwarding company to provide logistics solutions which will expertly arrange the shipping of his client's freight.

2. The freight forwarding company can be relied upon to follow the shipment all the way through from the supply chain to its final delivery any where around the world.

3. A international freight forwarding company will handle all paperwork that is necessary relating to the importing and exporting of goods and this will include such things as shipping notes, bills of lading, letters of credit, certificates of origin or any other documents that need to be included for the safe passage of your goods through customs both on departure and delivery. Why not speak to your freight forwarding advisor if you have any questions or queries regarding the documentation side of their services.

4. They will provide a pivotal role between you as the customer and your overseas client in order to ensure that the delivery is made on time and that is delivered safely to your client abroad.

However the role of an international air freight forwarding company is not simply the matter of them shipping your goods to your clients abroad they are also there to offer you help and advice with regard to the shipping of your goods along with information relating to letters of credit, bills of lading, any Foreign custom requirements along with custom formalities for the importing and exporting of goods. They should also be able to provide you with information in regard to any tax duties that may have to be paid in order for your goods to pass smoothly and swiftly through customs.

Evert DuToit is a writer and website publisher from Pittsburgh, PA. For more information about the air freight industry, and air freight forwarders, visit us at airfreight.information-pages.biz.

Tracing The History Of The Air Freight Forwarding Industry

2008-07-14T00:02:00.000-07:00

Man has always had a fascination for flying, ever finding ways to take to the skies and fly to distant places. This fascination, a dream that wouldn't die generation after generation, was what eventually led to the birth of airplanes.

Today, airplanes are mainly responsible for taking us to any point in the world. Airplanes have become major transportation carriers. Not only do airplanes enable us to visit a friend or a loved in another continent, airplanes also carry shipments -- from small items to large ones.

The idea of using an airplane to transport shipments took seed in 1910. According to aviation history, a shipment of silk was flown from Dayton to Columbus, Ohio. This shipment is believed to be the first air freight demonstration.

Nine years later, another airplane became freight carrier. The cargo: a converted bomber that weighed over a thousand pounds. Shipped by the American Railway Express, the converted bomber was flown to Chicago from Washington D.C. The journey was not uneventful, though. A frozen radiator forced the pilot to land the plane in Ohio.

The 1920s saw several airlines operate as freight carriers, catering only to American businesses. The arrival of air freight has helped businesses transport merchandise more rapidly as well as shorten the time they need to conclude transactions.

Between 1927 and 1931, the number and size of air freight cargo reached nearly a million pounds, up from 45,000 pounds. Commercial air freight began operating only after World War II ended although there were efforts to organize the air freight business prior to that.

American, United, TWA and Eastern -- the top four known airlines -- formed Air Cargo, Inc., which operated as an air freight company until the end of the war. However, United and TWA decided to operate their own air freight business in 1944.

The air freight industry was lucrative, which was why many small plane owners tried to get into the business but failed. The bigger airlines, concerned that the smaller airlines will adversely affect the industry's status quo, did not let smaller airlines into the air freight business. In addition, the big airlines did not want more competition. While many small plane operators tried and failed, the "Flying Tigers" survived. Known as the largest in air freight liner industry during its time, The Flying Tigers carried military and civilian cargo.

The air freight forwarding business may have had a good start, but it didn't really start developing until a man named Fred Smith started an air freight business that has become recognizable across the world -- Federal Express, or simply FedEx.

FedEx is one of the air freight carriers enjoying a great degree of success. FedEx uses modern technology (e.g., air freight software) in responding to the needs of its customers. The air freight software that FedEx uses, the latest in the freight forwarding industry, can resolve problems in the system as well as give customers services that are cost effective.

FedEx and UPS, another air freight carrier, are considered the two most reliable air freight forwarding companies in the United States today.

Please visit Air Freight Knowledge Base ?for more info.

What Does the Future Hold for the Chinese Air Freight Industry?

2008-07-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

However, shortage of available freighters is threatening to restrict the growth of China's air freight industry. According to the vice President of China's largest air freight forwarding company,

"We want to expand as fast as possible ... But it is very difficult to find aircraft at the moment."

GBS Freight is a UK freight forwarding company

Air Freight Forwarding Companies Involved In Price Fixing

2008-07-05T02:53:00.000-07:00

According to Julius Maldutis, the president of consulting firm Aviation Dynamics:

"This is going to be a very big issue because all the airlines increased the price of their cargo business concurrently".

GBS Freight is a freight forwarding company with over twenty years industry experience

The Future of the Chinese Air Freight Industry

2008-06-30T03:40:00.000-07:00

China is the fastest growing aviation market in the world thanks to the expansion of its air freight and air passenger industries. With air freight growth volumes predicted to drop off this year, how will the country's significance in the aviation market be affected?

The growth of China's air freight industry has led to a surge in the Asian cargo business over the last few years. This is reflected in the fact that air freight from Asia to Dallas Fort Worth airport (which is the leader in Asian cargo in the eastern and southern U.S) increased by 42% in 2004.

However, it is expected that China's air freight volume growth will ease off this year. This will happen as the market returns to a more stable expansion pace after the post SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) rebound in 2004 and 5.

In 2004 and 2005, China's air freight volume increased by 25% and 20% respectively. Passenger traffic also grew at this time; by 33% in 2004 and by 20% in 2005. This was as a result of people taking to the skies following the outbreak of SARS in the region.

Although the growth rate of China's air freight business is expected to ease off this year, it will not halt altogether. According to freight industry experts, air freight cargo volumes are anticipated to rise by 10% in 2006. If it does so, China's air freight volume will be 3.36 million tons.

Similarly, air passenger numbers are also likely to increase. China's aviation regulator estimates that air passenger number swill increase by 15%. This will mean that 159 million people will travel by air out of China in 2006.

The continued growth of China's air freight and air passenger volumes is relevant to the country as it is the fastest growing aviation market in the world today. As a result China is an important battleground between Boeing and Airbus.

Boeing has entered into discussions with China to supply the country with 150 jets. Whilst Airbus has signed a deal with China to supply 150 A320 jets to it. As a result China's role in the global aviation market is likely to remain very significant despite a slight slow down in its air freight industry's growth rate.

GBS Freight provides the following services:

Air'>http://www.gbsfreight.co.uk/freight_forwarder_services_af.htm">Air Freight

freight/'>http://www.gbsfreight.co.uk">Freight Forwarding UK