What Are the Different Types of Air Cargo?
Air freight is a preferred solution for shipments where speed, security, value, or specific cargo characteristics are critical. From standard consumer goods to dangerous goods and batteries, different types of air cargo have different handling and transport requirements.
Depending on the characteristics of the shipment, air cargo is generally divided into two main categories: General Cargo and Special Cargo.
What is General Cargo?
General Cargo includes goods that do not fall into Special Cargo categories and do not require additional precautions or special handling during air transport.
This can include a wide range of goods, such as:
These are shipments that can be handled and transported under standard air cargo procedures without specific temperature conditions, special packaging, or other additional measures.
However, “general cargo” does not necessarily mean the shipment is simple to organise. Dimensions, weight, the nature of the goods, the route, and the requirements of a particular airline can all affect how the shipment is transported.
What is Special Cargo?
Special Cargo includes shipments that, due to their nature, dimensions, weight, value, or other specific characteristics, require additional conditions for packaging, marking, documentation, handling, or transport.
In air freight operations, this includes various categories of special cargo. For Unimasters, particularly relevant categories include dangerous goods and shipments containing batteries, where specific requirements apply for safe air transport.
Dangerous Goods
Dangerous goods are items or substances that may pose a risk to health, safety, property, or the environment during transport.
They can include various substances and products, such as:
Dangerous goods are divided into 9 classes according to the nature of the risk. For each specific shipment, the applicable requirements for classification, packaging, marking, labelling, documentation, and handling must be determined.
The transport of dangerous goods by air is strictly regulated. IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) define internationally recognised standards and procedures for the preparation, acceptance, and handling of dangerous goods in air transport.
Lithium batteries
Lithium batteries are used in a huge number of modern products, from mobile devices and laptops to industrial equipment and electric vehicles.
Under certain conditions, they can present a risk of short circuit, overheating, and thermal ignition. For this reason, their transport by air is subject to specific requirements.
The exact classification and applicable rules depend on the type of battery, its capacity, and how it is transported — on its own, packed with equipment, or contained in equipment.
For example, UN3480 refers to lithium-ion batteries, while UN3481 refers to lithium-ion batteries contained in or packed with equipment. Depending on the specific shipment, other UN numbers and requirements may also apply.
Because of the specific risks involved in transporting batteries, it is important to determine the correct classification, packaging, marking, and required documentation in advance.
How are the requirements for a specific air shipment determined?
Not every shipment has the same requirements. When arranging air freight, several key characteristics should be considered:
Nature of the cargo — what is the product and does it contain substances or components subject to special regulations?
Dimensions and weight — can the shipment be handled with standard equipment or does it require special planning?
Temperature sensitivity — does the cargo need to remain within a specific temperature range?
Urgency — how quickly does the shipment need to reach its final destination?
Destination and route — are there specific requirements in the country of origin, transit, or destination, as well as requirements from the selected airline?
These factors can affect cost, transit time, route selection, and the required documentation.
What regulations apply to air cargo?
Air transport is a highly regulated industry, and different types of cargo are subject to different requirements.
IATA develops and maintains a range of standards and manuals that support the safe transport of different types of air cargo.
For dangerous goods, the key reference is the Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), which contain requirements for classification, packaging, marking, labelling, documentation, and handling.
For batteries, IATA also publishes specific guidance and the Battery Shipping Regulations (BSR).
Because regulations are updated regularly, requirements should always be checked against the specific cargo and the current rules applicable at the time of transport.
Why is it important to choose the right air cargo solution?
Air freight offers significantly shorter transit times compared with ocean freight and is suitable for urgent, high-value, and sensitive shipments. But speed is only one factor.
For special cargo, proper planning is critical. Inadequate packaging, missing documentation, incorrect classification, or failure to comply with a carrier’s requirements can result in delays, additional costs, or refusal of the shipment.
That is why, when organising air freight, it is important to assess what the cargo is, what specific characteristics it has, and which requirements apply to it.
Not sure how to transport your cargo by air?
Every shipment has its own specific requirements. From standard General Cargo to dangerous goods and shipments containing batteries, the right solution starts with a proper assessment of the cargo and the applicable requirements.
Unimasters provides air freight solutions tailored to the characteristics, urgency, and requirements of each individual shipment.
Contact our team to discuss your cargo and choose the right air freight solution for your delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is General Cargo?
General Cargo includes goods that do not fall into Special Cargo categories and do not require additional precautions or special handling during air transport.
What is Special Cargo?
Special Cargo includes shipments that, because of their nature, dimensions, weight, value, or other specific characteristics, have additional requirements for packaging, marking, documentation, or handling.
Can lithium batteries be transported by air?
Yes, but depending on the type of battery and how it is transported, specific requirements apply for classification, packaging, marking, documentation, and handling.
What are the requirements for transporting dangerous goods by air?
The requirements depend on the specific cargo and its classification. They may include special packaging, marking, labelling, documentation, and acceptance and handling procedures. IATA’s main industry reference for this category is the Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR).
What types of cargo are suitable for air freight?
Air freight is particularly suitable for urgent, high-value, and sensitive goods, as well as shipments where short transit time is essential.