Air cargo terms, in plain English.

Airport-to-airport

Service where the carrier moves cargo between two airports; pickup, delivery and clearance are arranged separately.

AWB (Air Waybill)

The contract of carriage and receipt for air cargo, issued by the carrier or its agent. Each shipment has a unique 11-digit number used for tracking.

Belly cargo

Cargo carried in the lower hold of passenger aircraft alongside baggage.

Chargeable weight

The weight used to price a shipment: the greater of gross weight and volumetric weight.

Commercial invoice

The seller’s document stating the goods, value and terms of sale, used for customs valuation.

Consignee

The party named to receive the shipment at the destination.

Consolidation

Combining several smaller shipments into one larger one to share cost and capacity.

Customs broker

A licensed professional who prepares and files customs declarations on behalf of an importer or exporter.

Cut-off time

The latest time cargo can be delivered to the airline or warehouse to make a given flight.

Dangerous goods (DG)

Articles or substances, such as lithium batteries or flammable liquids, that are regulated for air transport.

Door-to-door

Service covering pickup at origin through delivery at the final destination.

Freighter

An aircraft dedicated to carrying cargo, often with a main-deck capacity that passenger aircraft lack.

Gross weight

The actual weight of the shipment including packaging, as measured on a scale.

HAWB (House Air Waybill)

An air waybill issued by a freight forwarder to its customer, covering one consignment within a consolidation.

HS code

A standardised numerical code classifying goods for customs and tariffs.

IATA

International Air Transport Association, the trade body for airlines, whose three-letter airport codes (such as BOM, FRA) are used in freight.

Incoterms

Standard trade terms defining who is responsible for transport, insurance and duties at each stage of a sale.

MAWB (Master Air Waybill)

The air waybill issued by the airline or its agent covering a consolidated shipment.

Minimum charge

The lowest amount a carrier will bill for a shipment regardless of weight.

Notify party

The party to be informed when the shipment arrives, if different from the consignee.

Shipper

The party that sends the goods and typically books the transport.

Shipper’s Letter of Instruction (SLI)

A document giving the forwarder instructions on how to handle and document the shipment.

Shipping bill

In India, the export declaration filed with customs for goods leaving the country.

Surcharge

An additional per-kilo or fixed fee on top of the base rate, such as for fuel or security.

Transshipment

Transfer of cargo from one aircraft to another at an intermediate airport.

ULD (Unit Load Device)

A container or pallet used to load cargo onto an aircraft.

Volumetric weight

A weight equivalent calculated from a shipment’s dimensions, reflecting the space it takes up.