Air vs. Ocean Freight

Air vs. ocean cargo during COVID-19

COVID-19 has presented numerous challenges for importers and exporters, including rate fluctuations, very limited capacity and long delays. With all this uncertainty, you may be wondering which mode to choose for your next cargo shipment.

Should I send air or sea during COVID-19?

The choice between air and ocean usually depends on the size, weight and content of your shipment, and how quickly you need your products. Under normal conditions, airfreight for small shipments often makes a lot of sense. It may cost more, for example, an 85 kg shipment may cost $400 by LCL and $600 by air, but your products will arrive in days rather than weeks. For products such as retail, where fast turnover is key, or electronics, which benefit from the greater security of air freight, air freight is often the right choice. Currently, all freight rates, including air freight rates, are much more expensive than normal due to a variety of factors. However, airlines are flying and even increasing cargo plans with passenger aircraft. So, if your transit time or other factor demands it, you can still ship by air. As during non-pandemic times, shipping is often much more economical, especially for larger shipments. If you have time to wait for your products, try to ship them by sea when possible. Read on for more information on how to choose between sea and air freight.

1. Cost of air freight vs. ocean freight

2. Comparison of air vs. ocean freight

3. Air transport restrictions due to hazards

4. Transit time for air vs. ocean shipment

5. Carbon footprint of air transport vs. maritime transport

Cost of air freight vs. ocean freight

Comparison of air vs. ocean freight

Air Freight

• Air freight is best used when the shipping cost is less than 15-20% of the value of the goods.
• Air freight is faster, safer and more reliable than ocean freight, but it is also more expensive: a $195 ocean shipment can cost $1,000 by air.
• Airlines also have stricter regulations when it comes to shipping hazardous materials.

Ocean Freight

• Shipping offers more capacity and value: one container can hold 10,000 bottles of beer!
• Ocean freight is often much slower than air freight, and customs problems and port delays can cause additional delays. Express LCL is increasingly available on more routes and by more carriers, often guarantees a delivery date and is faster than regular shipping.
• Shipping has a much better carbon footprint than air transport.

Air cargo restrictions for dangerous goods

There is a long list of prohibited items for air transport and it varies according to national laws and airline regulations. With less obvious examples in parentheses, these prohibited items include:

• gases (e.g., lamp bulbs)
• all flammable things (e.g. perfume)
• toxic or corrosive items (e.g. batteries)
• magnetic substances (e.g. loudspeakers)
• public health risks (e.g., untanned hides and skins)
• oxidants and biochemicals (e.g., chemical drugs)
• anything with a danger sign on the packaging.

If you are considering air freight, you should carefully discuss the nature of your cargo with your freight forwarder. And don’t forget to mention ancillary items such as handles. Packaging may also be subject to restrictions. For example, there is a maximum weight restriction for corrugated boxes.

Transit time for air vs. ocean shipment

Until recently, smaller shipments that do not fill a container (LCL) tended to take much longer to ship than full container loads (FCL). Shippers who wanted smaller quantities reasonably soon had to pay a premium to go to air freight. But now there are ocean LCL services that can compete with air freight for time and are much cheaper. There are a number of reasons for this, including ships getting faster, channel improvements reducing delays on some routes, improvements in marine tracking and a much more competitive freight market. Some carriers now provide express ocean services, sometimes called expedited LCL, with guaranteed delivery days, actually faster than FCL and similar air transit times. Most airfreight is usually consolidated, but takes time to assemble, and dedicated services are usually once or twice a week. Therefore, transit times are typically 5 to 7 days. Compare this with some LCL express shipments. For example, from Europe to the east coast can take as little as 8 days, but it is important to note that, with current conditions, this can take much longer. So, air vs. ocean freight now? These services suit high value products with a critical, but not immediate, expiration date. It also works well for products with a short shelf life, but more than a couple of weeks.

Carbon footprint of air transport vs. sea transport

International organizations, governments and individuals are increasingly taking responsibility for their impact on the environment. Even smaller companies are considering how to contribute to a more sustainable future. This will also have a growing commercial impact: not having green credentials will lose business. So does ocean freight or air freight leave a larger carbon footprint on the environment? Shipping’s CO2 emissions are miniscule compared to air freight. Even despite some concerns about measurement, ocean freight has a much smaller carbon footprint. These guidelines should help you when you come to the air versus ocean freight decision.