[The difference between international express and air freight] Do you really know the difference between international express and air freight?

Have you ever encountered this situation: you want to send something abroad, but when you check, you are overwhelmed by the two options of international express delivery and air freight, and you have no idea which one is suitable for you! Although they look similar, there are actually significant differences between them. Today, I will talk to you about the difference between international express and air transportation!

What is International Express?

International express delivery refers to a service that delivers items directly from the place of shipment to the place of shipment worldwide through express delivery companies such as DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc. This method is usually "door-to-door" transportation. The courier company will help handle all logistics links, including pickup, transportation, customs clearance and delivery. The sender only needs to prepare the package and then wait for the recipient to receive the goods. Express delivery service is the first choice for transportation needs that require speed, convenience and high reliability, but the price is higher than air transportation. It is suitable for individuals and companies to send small items, documents, products and other goods.

What is Air Freight?

Air transport is a logistics method that uses airplanes to transport goods. It is suitable for situations where large quantities of goods need to be delivered quickly in a short period of time. Unlike express delivery, the transportation range of air transport is mainly limited to airport to airport, and the sender needs to handle the customs clearance and delivery of the package by himself. Air freight is more suitable than express delivery for shipping bulky, heavy or voluminous goods, because it is usually faster than sea freight when shipping large items, but the price is also relatively high because it involves a series of costs such as aviation fuel, airport fees and air transportation.

What is the difference between international express and air freight?

Many people may think that international express delivery and air transportation both involve “flying through the air” and seem to have no difference, but in fact, there are still big differences between the two in terms of service scope, operating procedures and prices.

Service Scope

International express delivery has a relatively wider coverage, including not only major air routes, but also cities and regions in various countries, even remote areas. In contrast, air freight service coverage is usually concentrated between major international airports. If the destination is not near a major airport, transshipment or additional logistics processing may be required.

Timeliness

International express delivery usually provides more accurate delivery time and time guarantee, especially for efficient services such as next-day delivery. Although air transport can also provide faster transportation speed, it may take a little longer than international express delivery in the process of transshipment and customs processing.

Processing Flow

Generally speaking, courier companies will take care of all the processes of international express delivery, including pickup, customs declaration, customs clearance and delivery. The sender only needs to provide the necessary documents, and the whole process is simple and worry-free. Air transport requires the sender or company to handle customs declaration and clearance by themselves, and arrange the delivery of goods from the airport to the destination. You may need to find a professional customs broker or freight forwarder to help you, otherwise the process will be more complicated.

Shipping cost structure

International express delivery charges are usually calculated based on weight, volume, destination and service type. For small packages, the freight is often higher, but for urgent needs, it can provide a higher cost-effectiveness. Air freight rates are mainly based on the weight and volume of the goods, and often require additional airport handling fees. For heavy and bulk goods, air freight prices are often more competitive.

How to choose the method that suits you?

If you need to ship small items quickly and conveniently, or are not familiar with the customs clearance process, international express is your best choice; if you have large quantities of goods and are familiar with the import and export process, air transport is a more economical option.

In short, international express delivery and air transportation each have their own advantages. When choosing, you mainly need to consider the weight of the goods, the urgency and the budget. I hope this information can help you understand the difference between the two more clearly, so that you can choose the most suitable logistics method!