What’s So Special About Air Transportation?
When it comes to shipping freight, there are many transportation modes available. From the road to the sea and even up into the air, the industry offers efficient ways to get freight from point A to point B.
Air transportation allows for both domestic and international freight shipping for a multitude of goods, like time-sensitive freight and high-value cargo. Air transportation not only has an intriguing history but also a myriad of benefits when it comes to getting freight delivered anywhere in the world.
In the third installment of our transportation series, FreightCenter answers the question: what’s so special about air transportation? Let’s find out!
The Rise of Air Transportation
In just under a century, airplanes went from a figment of the imagination to an indispensable mode of transportation for both people and goods. In 1903, the Wright brothers invented and flew the first airplane in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
Six years after the first flight, the first recorded air freight shipment took place Nov. 7th, 1910. A department store located in Columbus, OH, arranged for 200 pounds of silk to be flown to Dayton, OH, for a fashion show – and it arrived just in time.
WWI and WWII exhilarated the innovation of aircraft capacity and design due to the need to transport troops, weapons, and other essential supplies for the war efforts. During WWII, the Douglas C-47 Skytrain became a legendary cargo aircraft.
After WWI, the surplus of planes and pilots helped to create early commercial aviation, which included basic mail and parcel services. WWII led to more structured logistics within air transportation, and after the war, there were many trained pilots and aircraft available for civilian use just like after WWI. This spurred airlines like Pan Am and Flying Tiger to begin to operate cargo routes.
It wasn’t until the 1970s that air freight saw tons of growth and innovation. In 1973, FedEx began operations and revolutionized express shipping with the hub-and-spoke model. The hub-and-spoke model consists of a centralized distribution system where a central location manages and distributes goods to multiple, smaller locations.
By 1977, Boeing had introduced the 747 Freighter, which massively increased air cargo capacity. Over the next few decades, globalization accelerated with companies relying on the Just-In-Time (JIT) model for inventory systems that supported air freight.
Now, in the 21st century, the rise of e-commerce has fueled the demand for fast air logistics, with many consumers expecting their packages to arrive at their doorstep as soon as possible.
The Unique Benefits of Air Freight
The world relies heavily on air freight, especially for quickly transporting goods across countries and continents. But, with all the modes of transportation that can move goods across countries and continents as well, what sets air freight apart?
Airplanes give businesses a global reach that even ocean freight can’t. Planes can reach remote areas and are particularly useful for intercontinental shipping or for areas without a strong road or rail infrastructure.
However, air transportation’s number one advantage is its speed – what takes a cargo ship 30 days to reach its destination can take a plane 1-2 days – making shipping air for time-sensitive goods like medical supplies, flowers, or perishable food the optimal choice.
Not only is air freight suitable for time-sensitive goods, but high-value cargo as well. This is because airports and air cargo terminals have strict security protocols when loading and unloading the freight.
Due to these strict protocols, goods are handled less often compared to road or sea freight, reducing the chances of damages or theft during transit. Air freight’s high security makes it more reliable, along with its tight flight schedules, ensuring that shipments aren’t delayed.
Compared to other modes of transportation, air freight offers more flexibility and scalability. Flights can be arranged quickly for emergencies or for oversized loads that require quick transit. Today, many integrated logistics providers like UPS and DHL offer end-to-end services, allowing businesses to scale their operations easily.
Another massive benefit of air freight is that it supports Just-In-Time (JIT) supply chains because of its speed, predictability, and global reach.
Businesses are able to keep lower inventory levels, reducing their warehousing costs because of their reliance on fast replenishment. This is why air freight is a top choice for large industries like fashion or electronic manufacturers.
With its ability to reach any location worldwide, tracking technology, and overall speed and reliability, it’s no wonder air transportation is so special.
As e-commerce and customer demand continue to boom, air freight will continue to be a steady mode of transportation – one that supports global trade and meets time-sensitive delivery expectations. Its unmatched efficiency ensures that air transportation will remain a vital component of modern logistics well into the future.
