Air Cargo - How It Works

A2A

See: Airport-to-airport.

A2D

See: Airport-to-door.

A4A

Airlines for America Airlines (see the page “Interest Organisations”).

ABC Air Cargo Guide

See: OAG.

ABC World Airways Guide

See: OAG.

ACT

Active Temperature Controlled System. [IATA special handling code]

Act of God (Force majeure)

Damage to goods occurring without human influence. For example floods, storms, lightning, earthquakes, etc. [IATA]

ADV

Advise, Advised, Advising.

Advance arrangement

The shipper has to contact the carrier before issuing the shipment in order to prepare for the right handling or aircraft capacity needed.

Advanced charge

See: Disbursements.

AEA

Association of European Airlines (see the page “Interest Organisations”).

Agent

A person or organization authorized to act on behalf of another person or organization [IATA] ; see also: Forwarding Agent, Customs Agent, General Sales Agent.

Air Charter company

Company organizing aircraft capacity between origins and destinations on request.

Aircraft configuration

Planned use of the space available within the aircraft interior. Within one aircraft type different configurations may be possible; this is for example to be used for planning the movement of goods on ULD positions or in Bulk positions.

Aircraft contour

The maximum inside profile of the constant cross section portion of an aircraft. [IATA]

Aircraft hours

Aircraft hours are based on “block-to-block” time (i.e. from the moment the aircraft is pushed back from the gate or starts taxiing from its parking stand for take-off to the moment it comes to a final stop at a gate or parking stand after landing); also known as block time. [ICAO]

Aircraft movement

An aircraft take-off or landing at an airport. For airport traffic purposes one arrival and one departure is counted as two movements.

-          International. All flights of national or foreign aircraft whose origin or destination is located in the territory of a State other than that in which the airport being reported on is located.

-          Domestic. All flights of national or foreign aircraft in which all the airports are located in the territory of the same State.

In both cases a flight shall be considered as the operation of an aircraft on a stage or number of stages with an unchanging flight number. Technical stops are not considered. [ICAO]

Aircraft Pallet

A platform with a flat under surface, manufactured to standard aircraft requirements on which goods are assembled and secured by nets / straps / igloos and subsequently locked into the aircraft.  It permits rapid loading / unloading on compatible aircraft conveying and restraint systems.  As such it becomes a component of the aircraft loading and restraint system. [IATA] (see also: Aircraft Unit Load Device)

Aircraft Pallet Net

A net fixed to a pallet to restrain the cargo.

Aircraft Unit Load Device (ULD)

Standardized air cargo loading equipment in the form of a container or a pallet, made to international specifications to be exactly locked and secured onto the aircraft cargo floor. As such it becomes part of the aircraft structure.

Aircraft Version

The type designator used to indicate the aircraft configuration together with the details of the equipment carried. [IATA]

Airline

Company organizing scheduled aircraft capacity between origin and destination airports ; also:

The air carrier issuing the air waybill or all other air carriers performing services under the air waybill.

Airline Code Number

See: Prefix.

Airmail

Mail travelling by air. See also: Mail.

Air Operator

Company operating aircraft.

Airport-to-airport

Air cargo transport from an airport of origin to an airport of destination.

Airport-to-door

(Road) transport from the airport of arrival to the house address of the (final) consignee.

Air taxi revenue flights

On-demand, non-scheduled flights on short notice for the carriage by air of passengers, freight or mail, or any combination thereof for remuneration usually performed with smaller aircraft including helicopters (typically no more than 30 seats). Also includes any positioning flights required for the provision of the service. [ICAO]

Air Waybill

The Document made out by or on behalf of the shipper which evidences the contract between the shipper and carrier(s) for carriage of goods over routes of the carrier(s). [IATA]

All-Cargo Aircraft

An aircraft which carries air freight only.  Also Cargo Aircraft or Freighter. [IATA]

Allotment

Customer contracted space for cargo on board of specific flights/dates. During the booking and flight planning process this space keeps being reserved for the customer, until it is manually or automatically released in case the customer does not use the space.

Ancillary Equipment

Equipment used to build up a palletised load or to convey a ULD outside an aircraft.  For example: jigs, dollies, templates. [IATA]

AOG

Aircraft On Ground ; materials expedited for repair of a grounded aircraft. [IATA special handling code]

AP

Airport.

Apron

Part of the airport where aircraft are parked, loaded or unloaded, handled and maintained.

ARR

Arrive, Arrived, Arrival.

Also: a C2K / Cargo iQ milestone: ARR = cargo and documents arrived at airport of destination.

ATA

Former Air Transport Association, now A4A (see above and see the page “Interest Organisations”).

ATA

Actual Time of Arrival.

ATD

Actual Time of Departure.

Authorisation

The commission to a certain person or body to act on behalf of another person or body ; the person or body can be authorised e.g. to issue air waybills or to collect freight

AVI

Live Animal(s). [IATA special handling code]

AWB

See: Air Waybill.

Backlog

Amount of goods still to be delivered or received and for which the planned or agreed date has expired.

BAG

Baggage

Barrier Net

Net inside the aircraft installed across the fuselage to prevent the cargo from moving in case of an emergency.

Basic Weight (of an Aircraft)

Weight of the aircraft ready for operation. [IATA]

Bay

Part of the cargo hold, e.g. a cargo position or ULD position in the aircraft.

BELF

Break Even Load Factor ; The weight load factor at which point operating revenues equal operating expenses. It is obtained by multiplying the weight load factor by the ratio of the operating expenses to the operating revenues. [ICAO]

Belly

Lower-deck cargo hold of an aircraft.

Bid Price

The minimum price that should be charged for a booking.

BIG

Outsized cargo. [IATA special handling code]

Blocked-space agreement

A continuous reservation for space at one or more flight / date combinations with an airline.  See also: Allotment.

Block-Off Charter

See: Part Charter.

Block time

See: Aircraft hours.

Bonded goods

Goods on which the customs duty has not yet been paid, and which therefore, are under the control of customs; usually in a Bonded warehouse.

Bonded warehouse

A depository for goods on which the customs duty has not been paid ; the warehouse proprietor must provide a bond (often in the form of a bank warranty or a mortgage) to the customs authorities as a security for any duties which may not be paid by the customer.

Booking

Request for reservation of space on a flight/day, (to be) confirmed by the airline.  Booking can take place via telephone, e-mail or via e-booking channels.

Break Bulk

Disassembling of consolidated shipments for delivery or reconsignment of a shipment

Break Bulk Agent

A forwarder breaking the bulk: taking care of breaking the consolidations into their individual parts, and/or the unpacking and sorting of goods after the flight.

Breakdown List

List of shipments carried in one consolidation (see also: Consolidation Manifest).

Broker

Person who acts as an agent or intermediary in negotiating contracts ; sometimes refers to a forwarder role

Brokerage

A fee of commission paid to a Broker for services performed.

Bulk cargo

Loose cargo not loaded on an ULD.

Bulk compartment

Aircraft compartment planned for carrying bulk cargo.

Bulkhead

A fixed partition separating cargo holds in an aircraft. [IATA]

Bulk unitization

An agreement whereby a carrier rents containers and pallets to agents and exporters to assemble cargo into one ULD. [IATA]

Bulk unitization charge

A tariff applicable to bulk unitization charges. [IATA]

BUP

Bulk Unitization Programme, Shipper/Consignee Handled Unit. Customer built up pallet that moves through the air cargo chain as a complete unit as be it one collo.  [IATA special handling code]

Cabotage

Traffic originating at a point in one country and destined for another point within the territory of the same country. For example: New York – Los Angeles or Melbourne – Perth. [IATA]

CAO

Cargo Aircraft Only. [IATA special handling code]

Capacity

The amount of cargo that can be carried by an aircraft, either by weight, volume or ULD positions.

Cargo

Equivalent to the term goods, meaning any property carried or to be carried in an aircraft other than mail, baggage or property of the carrier; provided that baggage moving under an air waybill is cargo. [IATA]

Cargo aircraft

See: All-Cargo Aircraft

Cargo assembly

The separate reception of parcels or packages and the holding of them for later dispatch as one consignment [IATA] ; applies to consolidator role.

Cargo disassembly

The separation of one or more of the parcels or packages that are  part of a consignment for any purpose other than that of presenting such part to customs authorities on their specific request [IATA] ; applies to break bulk role.

Cargo hold

A space in an aircraft confined by ceiling, floors, walls and bulkheads used for carrying baggage, cargo and mail, either in bulk or in unit load devices. [IATA]

Cargo-IMP

Cargo Interchange Message Procedures.  Cargo data exchange automation between airlines and other parties works much more efficiently if messaging procedures and standards are applied. IATA's Cargo-IMP is the legacy standard for exchanging critical cargo operations information. The IATA Cargo-XML standard which will ultimately replace Cargo-IMP. 

Cargo iQ

Cargo iQ, formerly “Cargo 2000”, is an IATA interest group with the mission of creating and implementing quality standards for the worldwide.

Cargo-XML

IATA Cargo-XML messages are the new standard for air cargo industry electronic messaging, as an alternative to Cargo-IMP, and are used for electronic communication between airlines and other air cargo supply chain stakeholders, such as shippers, freight forwarders, ground-handling agents, and regulators, as well as customs and security agencies.

Carriage

Transport ; the process of conveying cargo from one point to another.

Carrier

The party responsible for transport of goods from one point to another, this can be for example an airline or a forwarder (as a NVOCC).

Cartage

Also: Trucking charge.  The charge for picking up or delivering goods by surface transportation. [IATA]

CASS

Cargo Accounts Settlement System.  A system of accounting and settling accounts on air cargo sales between airlines on one hand and their intermediaries on the other. [IATA]

CAT

Cargo Attendant Accompanying Shipment. [IATA special handling code]

CC

See: Charges Collect.

CCS

Cargo Community System ; information system integrating the communication between air cargo parties at an airport.

Certificate of origin

A certificate proving the country of original production of goods ; used for customs declaration purposes.

Certificate of weight

Official document stating the weight of the goods mentioned thereon. [IATA]

Certification of a ULD

Approval by airworthiness authorizations that an ULD meets the safety requirements of the aircraft in which it is to be carried.

Charge

An amount to be paid for the carriage of cargo based on the applicable rate for such carriage or an amount to be paid for special or incidental service in connection with such carriage. [IATA]

Chargeable weight

The chargeable weight is either the actual gross weight or the volume weight of a consignment, or the minimum weight of an applicable rate, whichever is higher. The chargeable weight is used to calculate the weight charge (chargeable weight x rate per kg/lb = weight charge. [IATA]

Charges collect

Charges as stated on the air waybill to be collected from the consignee at the moment of collection of the goods.

Charges collect fee

A fee assessed on the weight and valuation charge of charges collect shipments. This fee is payable by the consignee.

Charges forward

See: Charges collect.

Charges prepaid

Charges as stated on the air waybill for payment by the shipper.

Charter

An aircraft or flight operating under a charter contract.

Charter contract

A special agreement whereby a carrier places the entire capacity of an aircraft at a shipper’s disposition.

Charter party

See: Charter contract.

Charterer

The person who has signed a charter contract with a carrier.

Checked baggage

Means baggage of which the carrier takes sole custody and for which carrier has issued a baggage check.

Claim

A written complaint about the execution of a contract of transportation by a carrier, combined with a demand for financial compensation.

Class rate

A rate applicable to a specifically designated class of goods. E.g. newspapers, live animals, etc.

Classification

Assigning the right import classification number to goods as part of the customs declaration process.  (Customs authorities have articles listed in classes for rating purposes.)

CLR

Clear.

CNEE

Consignee.

C.O.D.

Cash On Delivery.

Code sharing

The use of the flight designator code of one air carrier on a service performed by a second air carrier, which service is usually also identified (and may be required to be identified) as a service of, and being performed by, the second air carrier. [ICAO]

COL

Cool Goods. [IATA special handling code]

COLL

Collect, Collected, Collecting.

COMAT

Company Material (non revenue cargo).

Combi

Combi Aircraft, combining transport of passengers and cargo on the main-deck.

Combination of charges

An amount which is obtained by combining two or more charges.

Combination of rates

An amount which is obtained by combining two or more published sector rates.

Commercial air transport

Air transport services available to the general public for the transportation of passengers, mail and/or freight for remuneration. Includes air taxis and commercial business flights. [ICAO]

Commercial air transport operator

An operator that, for remuneration, provides scheduled or non-scheduled air transport services to the public for the carriage of passengers, freight or mail. This category also includes small-scale operators, such as air taxis and commercial business operators, that provide commercial air transport services. [ICAO]

Commercial invoice

An invoice for goods which make up a commercial transaction.

Commission

A fee payable to an IATA agent.

Commodity

Indication of the type of goods ; commodities are coded according to the Harmonised System.

Commodity code

Code used in the Harmonised System for the classification of goods, which are most commonly produced and traded.

Complaint

An official statement from a customer to a carrier about his unhappiness with the service or operation of the service provider.

Consignee

The person or company that is physically and administratively responsible for accepting the goods at final delivery.

Consolidation

A collection of shipments belonging to different shippers (covered by different House Air waybills) travelling to one destination (covered by one Master Air waybill) or area to be distributed to several consignees. 

Consolidation Manifest

List of shipments carried in one consolidation (used for Customs purposes).

Consolidation Rates

Rates as given by a consolidator / forwarder.

Consolidator

A forwarder consolidating shipments before a flight ; these shipments belonging to different shippers and travelling to one destination or area in order to be distributed to several consignees after the flight.

Constructed rate

A rate other than a published through rate.

Construction rate

A non-saleable add-on amount for Tariff publication purposes to be used only in combination with a published through rate.

Consular invoice

A prescribed form of invoice required by a transit or destination country, usually legalized by the Consulate of the country concerned against payment of a fee.

Container

See: ULD.

Container transport

Goods forwarded in approved containers or ULD’s.

Containerization

The practice of using a boxlike device in which a number of packages are stored, protected and handled as a single unit in transit.

Contour

Outline.

Conventional aircraft

See: Narrow body aircraft.

Convertible aircraft

An aircraft which can be converted in a very short time from an all passenger to an all or part cargo configuration and back.

Courier

A person carrying time-sensitive documents or packages through the passenger cabin and/or baggage and customs channels thereby avoiding the traditional, more time consuming customs procedures for freight.

Courier company

Company that carries envelopes and parcels up to 75 kg from door to door ; air transport is generally outsourced to airlines.

Courier Rates

Rates as given by a courier.

CPTY

Capacity.

CRN

Customs Release Note.

Customs agent

See: Customs broker

Customs broker (certified)

Party certified to handle the customs clearance on account of importers / exporters.

Customs clearance

Customs formalities to be completed at origin, in transit and destination.

Customs clearance agent

See: Customs broker.

Customs duty

A governmental tax levied on goods cleared through customs.

Customs invoice

(Pro forma) Invoice for import declaration (customs and statistics) purposes, stating the commercial price, added with the costs for freight, insurance and packing etc., terms of delivery and payment.

Customs officer

An employee working for the customs authorities.

Customs value

Value of goods to be imported for import declaration (customs and statistics) purposes.

D2A

Door-to-airport.

D2D

Door-to-door.

Dangerous cargo

See: Dangerous goods.

Dangerous goods

Goods that can be hazardous for health, flight-safety or materials; in air cargo: any article defined as hazardous as per the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR).

Dangerous Goods Regulations

IATA publication with regulations listing all dangerous goods and giving detailed instructions regarding packing and handling of these materials.

DAP

A Cargo iQ (former C2K) key performance indicator: DAP = Delivered As Promised (NFD in full and on time statuses are achieved).

Deadload

Baggage, cargo and mail.

Deck

A structural floor level of an aircraft.  The different floor levels are referred to as lower deck, main deck and upper deck from bottom to top.

Declared value for carriage

Value of goods declared by the shipper to the carrier for purposes of determining charges or establishing the limit of the carrier’s liability for loss, damage or delay.

Declared value for customs

Value of the goods declared by the shipper for customs purposes.

Delivering airline

See: Delivering carrier.

Delivering carrier

The carrier which delivers the consignment to the consignee or his agent.

Delivery charge

A charge levied for the delivery service.

Delivery order

Authorization to deliver the consignment to a party other than the consignee shown on the Air Waybill.

Delivery receipt

A receipt signed by the consignee as proof that the goods have been delivered to him/her.

Delivery service

The carriage of inbound consignments from the airport of destination to the address of the consignee or that of his designated agent or to the custody of the appropriate government agency when required.

Demand

Expected amount of cargo to be booked for a given flight / segment / stretch or O&D.

Demurrage

A variable fee charged from carriers to customers for the use of carrier owned ULD’s beyond the free time allotment.

Density

Relationship of weight to volume i.e. lbs. per cu.ft. or kgs. Per cu.m.

DEP

A Cargo iQ (former C2K) milestone: DEP = cargo and documents departed at airport of origin.

DEPT

Department.

Destination

The final address or airport where the cargo has to arrive or is consigned, according to the contract of carriage.

DG

Dangerous Goods.

DGR

Dangerous Goods Regulations (published by IATA).

Dimensional Weight (Conversion)

Concept adopted by the transportation industry worldwide as a uniform means of establishing a minimum charge for the cubic space a package occupies ; the volume is converted into a (higher) weight / price class

(See the “Forwarding Out” page of this website also)

Dimensions

The length, width and height measured in centimetres or inches used to assess applicable rates.

DIMS

Dimensions.

DIP

Diplomatic mail. [IATA special handling code]

Direct flight

A flight from a point of origin to a point of destination that does not require cargo to be transferred to another flight although there may be one or more intermediate stops en route.

Disbursements

(Also: Advanced Charge) Charge paid by carrier to agent or other carrier which the delivering carrier collects from the consignee. [IATA]

Disposable container

A ULD to be used only once.

Distribution centre

See: Hub.

DLV

Deliver, Delivered, Delivering.

Also a Cargo iQ (former C2K) milestone: DLV = cargo and documents delivered to customer (forwarder).

DOCS

Document(s), Documentation.

Dolly

Domestic flight

A flight having exclusively domestic stages. (See flight stage, domestic). [ICAO]

Domestic transport

Transport within a country

Door-to-door

Transport from an (initial) shipper’s house address to a (final) consignee’s house address

Duty

Tax imposed on goods imported from another country

EDI

Electronic Data Interchange

EDIFACT

Electronic Data Interchange For Administration, Commerce and Transport ; a specific EDI protocol

e-AWB

Electronic Air Waybill.  See also: FWB.

e-Booking

Electronic on-line booking via the airline’s booking portal / channels.

e-Claim

Electronic claim.

e-Freight

Electronic freight documents project from IATA ; e-Freight aims to take the paper out of the air cargo supply chain and -processes and replace it with cheaper, more accurate and more reliable electronic messaging ; facilitated by IATA, the project is an industry-wide initiative involving carriers, freight forwarders, ground handlers, shippers and customs authorities

(See the “e-Freight” page of this website also)

Electronic Data Interchange

The interchange of electronic data, structured following an agreed protocol, between the automated information system of different parties

Embargo

An embargo on a certain kind of goods means these goods will not be transported by the airline, often for flight-safety reasons

Equipment

Materials needed to handle or transport goods

ESC

European Shippers’ Council (see the page “Interest Organisations”)

ETA

Estimated Time of Arrival

ETD

Estimated Time of Departure

Expediting

Forwarding goods (in less than the normal lead time)

Expeditor

Forwarder

FAK

Freight All Kinds

FAK-Rates

Rates for Freight All Kinds

FAP

A Cargo iQ (former C2K) key performance indicator: FAP = Flown As Planned (the complete shipment has flown at or before the last planned flight with a maximum 12 hour delay)

FBO

Fixed-Base Operator ; An organization granted the right by an airport to operate at the airport and provide aeronautical services such as fueling, hangaring, tie-down and parking, aircraft rental, aircraft maintenance, flight instruction, and similar services (which can include ad-hoc handling of air cargo).

FCL

Full Container Load

FDCA

Found Cargo

FFM

Freight Forwarding Message (electronic)

FIATA

International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (see the page “Interest Organisations”)

Flight (air carrier operations)

The operation of an aircraft on a flight stage or number of flight stages with the same flight number. [ICAO]

FLT

Flight

Flight leg

Flight segment

Flight stage

A flight stage is the operation of an aircraft from take-off to its next landing. A flight stage is classified as either international or domestic based on the following definitions:

-          International. A flight stage with one or both terminals in the territory of a State, other than the State in which the air carrier has its principal place of business.

-          Domestic. A flight stage not classifiable as international. Domestic flight stages include all flight stages flown between points within the domestic boundaries of a State by an air carrier whose principal place of business is in that State. Flight stages between a State and territories belonging to it, as well as any flight stages between two such territories, should be classified as domestic. This applies even though a stage may cross international waters or over the territory of another State.

Notes:

1.      In the case of multinational air carriers owned by partner States, traffic within each partner State is shown separately as domestic and all other traffic as international.

2.      “Foreign” cabotage traffic (i.e. traffic carried between city-pairs in a State other than the one where the reporting carrier has its principal place of business) is shown as international traffic.

3.      A technical stop does not result in any flight stage being classified differently than would have been the case had the technical stop not been made.

[ICAO]

Forwarder (Air Freight)

Company specialized in providing door-to-airport transport, arranging connecting air transport and/or airport-to-door transport for parcels and consolidations > 75 kg or up to anything that fits in an aircraft ; the air transport is generally outsourced to airlines and sometimes aircraft operators or air charter companies

(See the pages “Forwarding In” and “Fowarding Out” of this website also)

Forwarder network

A network existing of different smaller to medium sized forwarding companies all over the world working together

Forwarding agent

Freedoms of the Air

A set of commercial aviation rights granting a country's airlines to overfly another country’s airspace and to land for a technical stop as well as the privilege pick-up and discharge traffic in another country's territory. [ICAO]

Freight

Includes express and diplomatic bags but not passenger baggage. [ICAO]

Freight collect

See: Charges collect

Freight (or mail) loaded/unloaded

These terms as applied to freight and mail have meanings similar to embarked and disembarked for passengers. [ICAO]

Freighter

Aircraft built with the purpose of carrying nothing else than cargo

Freight mass

The factor to convert freight loads from volume into mass (or vice versa) is left to the discretion of the carrier. However, if no conversion factor is available, it is recommended that 161 kilograms per cubic meter be used. The same  conversion factor can be used for passenger baggage. [ICAO]

Freight (or mail) tonnes carried

The number of tonnes of freight carried is obtained by counting each tonne of freight on a particular flight (with one flight number) once only and not repeatedly on each individual stage of that flight.  The only exception to this is for freight flown on both the international and domestic stages of the same flight, which is considered in computation both as a domestic and an international shipment or dispatch.  The same principle should be used in calculating mail tonnes carried. [ICAO]

Freight (or mail) tonne-kilometres performed

A metric tonne of freight or mail carried one kilometre. Freight tonne-kilometres equal the sum of the products obtained by multiplying the number of tonnes of freight, express, diplomatic bags carried on each flight stage by the stage distance. For ICAO statistical purposes freight includes express and diplomatic bags but not passenger baggage. Mail tonne-kilometres are computed in the same way as freight tonne-kilometres. [ICAO]

FSU

Freight Status Update

Fuel surcharge

Surcharge added to the cargo rate to cover the additional costs of increasing fuel-prices ; these will generally folow a certain index

Full charter

Chartering the full available volume of an aircraft or flight/day

Full Container Load

Container fully loaded, generally with goods belonging to one party

Full freighter

Aircraft built with the purpose of carrying nothing else than cargo

FWB

Electronic air waybill message.

Also a Cargo iQ (former C2K) milestone: FWB = the shipment is booked at the airline, next an electronic air waybill is generated by agent (forwarder) ; this creates the so-called route map in C2K in which all the steps are followed.

FYI

For Your Information

General Cargo Rates

Rates for all different kinds of cargo, not falling into a specific handling and/or rate category

General Sales Agent

GHA

Ground Handling Agent

Go-show

Booked shipment that shows up for departure, with a weight/volume more or less same as booked. Based on this the shipment can be accepted by the airline handler.

Ground Handler

Company handling one or more services on the airport on behalf of an airline ; e.g. aircraft towing, cargo (un)loading, passenger handling, etc.

Groupage

See: Consolidation.

GSA

General Sales Agent

GSF

Global Shippers Forum (see the page “Interest Organisations”)

Handling Agent

Agent handling the ramp and/or warehouse cargo operation for an airline

Harmonised System

A numeric multi purpose system for the classification of goods with its six digits covering about 5000 descriptions of the products or groups of products most commonly produced and traded, designed for customs purposes, but can also be used for statistics, transport purposes, export, import and manufacturing; the international convention on the HS was established under auspices of the World Customs Organisation in 1983

Haulage

Inland transport of cargo

Haulier

Road carrier

HEA

Heavy Cargo

HAWB

House Air Waybill

High-show

Booked shipment that shows up for departure, but with a weight/volume higher than booked. Based on this the airline handler must probably notify the customer and/or airline before acceptance.

House Air Waybill

The shipment contract between the end-customer and the forwarder (see the page “Forwarding Out” of this website for further purposes and explanation)

Hub

Central point in a transport system or network

HUM

Human remains

HWB

House Waybill

IATA

International Air Transport Association (see the page “Interest Organisations”)

IATA-Agent

An IATA certified agent

ICAL

Inbound Cargo Action List

ICAO

International Civil Aviation Organisation (see the page “Interest Organisations”)

ICE

Dry Ice Shipment

IN

Inches

Inco terms

Internationally agreed set of standard delivery terms (see Wikipedia)

Integrator

Carrier integrating different modes of transport to form a door-to-door transport or supply chain ; this term mostly refers to the large international express companies who’s core business is to carry envelopes and parcels up to 75 kg, often overnight or even same day

International airport

Any airport designated by an ICAO Contracting State in whose territory it is situated as an airport of entry and departure for international air traffic, where the formalities such as customs, immigration, public health, agricultural quarantine and similar procedures are carried out. [ICAO]

International flight

A flight that contains one or more international flight stages. (See flight stage, international). [ICAO]

Intermodal Transport

The movement of cargo in a supply chain by more than one mode of transport ; for example road/air or sea/air transport

INV

Invoice

ISA

If Space Available

Joint service flight

A flight identified by the designator codes of two air carriers that, with the concurrence of their respective States, typically have agreed with each other to share revenues and/or costs. [ICAO]

KG

Kilos

L/C

Letter of Credit

LCC

Low Cost Carrier ; An air carrier that has a relatively low-cost structure in comparison with other comparable carriers and offers low fares and rates. Such an airline may be independent, the division or subsidiary of a major network airline or, in some instances, the ex-charter arm of an airline group. [ICAO]

LCL

Less than Container Load

Leased aircraft

An aircraft used under a contractual leasing arrangement to increase an air carrier fleet capacity. [ICAO]

Less than Container Load

Container partly filled with goods from one party, or an amount of goods that is not sufficient to fill one container and will therefore likely be consolidated

LHO

Living Human Organs / Blood

License, import / export

Governmental permit to import / export certain goods under certain conditions

Line item

Order line, each line on a packing list or invoice to be declared for customs

Load factor

The extent to which the aircraft (weight-, volume-, ULD-) capacity is efficiently utilized (to generate profit)

LOC

Location

Loose cargo / shipments

Cargo / shipments not loaded on an ULD

Lower deck

The (cargo) deck below the main deck or upper deck of an aircraft

Low show

Booked shipment that shows up for departure, but with a weight lower than booked. Based on this the airline handler must probably notify the customer and/or airline before acceptance.

LT

Local Time

Mail

All correspondence and other objects tendered by and intended for delivery to postal administrations. [ICAO]

Main deck

Upper deck ; the (cargo) deck above  the lower deck of an aircraft

Manifest, flight

Document listing the air waybills and a specification of the related goods carried on a flight

Master Air Waybill

The shipment contract between the forwarder and the airline (see the page “Forwarding Out” of this website for further purposes and explanation)

MAWB

Master Air Waybill

MCTOM

Maximum certificated take-off mass ; The maximum permissible take-off mass of the aircraft according to the certificate of airworthiness, the flight manual or other official documents. [ICAO]

MFST

Manifest

Minimum Rate

Rate to cover the basic costs of carrying a shipment

MSG

Message(s)

Narrow body aircraft

Net/Net rate

Network Forwarder

A large forwarding company with worldwide branches

NFD

A Cargo iQ (former C2K) milestone: NFD = cargo and documents ready for pick-up at airline (handler), the customer (forwarder) is notified

NND

Notice of Non Delivery

NON-IATA

Airline or agent that is not a member of IATA

Non-revenue flights

Aircraft hours flown on non-commercial business aviation, test flights, training and all other flights for which no revenue is received. [ICAO]

Non-scheduled revenue flights (excluding on-demand flights)

Charter flights and special flights performed for remuneration other than those reported under scheduled flights. They include any items related to blocked-off charters and exclude air taxi, commercial business aviation or other on demand revenue flights. [ICAO]

Nose loading

Loading cargo through the cargo door in the nose of an aircraft

No-show

Booked shipment that does not show up for departure. Based on this the airline handler must probably notify the customer and/or airline.

Notify address

Address of a party other than the consignee to be notified of arrival of the goods

Notify party

Party other than the consignee to be notified of arrival of the goods

NOTOC

Notification To Captain ; list for the captain of the aircraft with goods carried on board

N-Rates

Rates for shipments with weights up to 45 kg

NVOCC

Non Vessel Operating/Owning Cargo Carrier ; in case of Air Cargo a Carrier (e.g. a Forwarder or Consolidator) who issues Air Waybills for the carriage of cargo on aircraft which he does not  operate or own.

OAG

Official Airline Guide ; a UBM Aviation business, recognized for its comprehensive information and services to the world’s airlines, airports, global distribution systems, aircraft ; specifically for air cargo: solutions for routing and shipment planning, dangerous goods regulations, compliance, real-time access to air freight rates, aviation schedule data, operational announcement solutions, cargo tracking and analysis solutions and multi-media cargo schedule products manufacturers, financial institutions, government agencies and travel planners.

OB

On Board

OBC

On Board Courier

Off-loaded

Cargo is loaded on the aircraft but off-loaded again, e.g. for reasons of weight & balance, security, flight safety, etc.

OFOD

On-flight origin and destination ; City-pair / two cities between which travel is authorized by a passenger ticket or part of a ticket (a flight coupon) or between which shipments are made in accordance with a shipment document or a part of it (freight bill or mail delivery bill). [ICAO]

O&D

Origin and Destination

On Board Courier

One stop shopping

Operating carrier

That carrier whose flight number is being used for air traffic control purposes. For the purpose of reporting air carrier statistics to ICAO, all operational and traffic items should be reported by the operating carrier, including code-shared, franchised, pooled, blocked-off charter, blocked-space arrangements, joint services and leased aircraft services. [ICAO]

Operating costs

Air carrier operating costs are generally subdivided into:

-          Direct operating costs (DOC), i.e those cost incurred in operating the aircraft which cover the following main accounts : flight operations, flight equipment maintenance and overhaul, flight equipment depreciation, and user charges.

-          Indirect operating costs (IOC) cover the remaining operating cost items, i.e, station expenses, passenger services, ticketing, sales and promotion and, general and administrative expenses.

[ICAO]

Origin

The first address or airport where the cargo was shipped

Overbooking

The practice of allowing more capacity to be booked than the carrying capacity of the flight, because it is expected that a part of the bookings will be canceled or will not show up for departure

Overcarried cargo

Cargo that accidentally ended up at the wrong destination (e.g. due to building on wrong pallet)

Over pivot rate

Rate per kilogram to be charged for the over pivot weight

Over pivot weight

Weight in excess of the pivot weight

Oversales

The situation when more cargo is sold before departure than the aircraft / flight can hold

Oversized cargo

Cargo that exceeds the dimensions of an ULD

Package

Packed piece of cargo

Packing list

A list for customs declaration and consignment purposes stating number and kinds of packages being shipped, totals of gross, legal, and net weights of the packages, marks and numbers on the packages, contents and part-/serial numbers

Pallet

A (standardized) platform on which goods can be stacked for transport or warehouse handling purposes

Pallet, aircraft

A (standardized) platform on which goods can be stacked for air transport purposes

Pallet net

A net used to secure the cargo on the aircraft pallet

Parcel

Package

Part charter

Chartering of a part of the available volume on an aircraft or flight/day

Part shipment

Part of a shipment that travels on a different flight and/or day than the rest of the shipment due to available capacity with the airline

PAX

Passenger(s)

Payload

The (cargo) load that can be carried by an aircraft (to generate revenue)

Payload capacity

Total payload capacity available (in metric tonnes), above and below deck, for the carriage of revenue load (passengers, baggage, freight and mail) taking into account any payload and operational restrictions on the supply of capacity. [ICAO]

PC

Piece(s)

PER

Perishable Cargo

PFI

Pro Forma Invoice

Pivot weight

Minimum chargeable weight of a Unit Load Device

POA

Proof Of Acceptance ; legal proof a shipment has been accepted by a party

Also: Power Of Attorney ; allows the Broker to act on behalf of the person or firm granting the POA and give them the right to make customs entry

POD

Proof Of Delivery ; legal proof a shipment has been delivered by a party

POD

Place Of Delivery

PP

Charges Prepaid

PPD

Prepaid

Pre-alert

Message stating the current and or expected status of the goods

Prefix

An airline identification number stated before the serial number on an air waybill. For example: KL = 074 ; AF = 057. [IATA]

Principal

The customer ordering the transport or related services

PSH

Part Shipment

QNTY

Quantity

Q-Rates

Rates with a quantity discount

Quick change aircraft

See: Convertible aircraft.

Rapid change aircraft

See: Convertible aircraft.

RCF

A Cargo iQ (former C2K) milestone: RCF = cargo has arrived in the cargo bay at final destination ; cargo and air waybill are administratively received in the system

RCPT

Receipt, Reception

RCS

A Cargo iQ (former C2K) milestone: RCS = cargo and documents are received 'Ready For Carriage' and accepted by airline (handler)

Ready For Carriage

(By Air) The goods are correctly packed and labelled, and customs cleared, with the right documents attached

Ready For Transport

(By Road) The goods are correctly packed and labelled, with the right documents attached

Revenue Management

Maximising revenues of the aircraft cargo capacity

Reservation

See: Booking.

Revenue traffic

Traffic (passenger, freight or mail) flown by an air carrier for which it receives commercial remuneration. Unless otherwise stated, traffic data shown for air carriers generally correspond to revenue traffic, which can then be readily compared with the revenues reported for that traffic. [ICAO]

RFC

Ready For Carriage

RFT

Ready For Transport

Routing

The path that is (to be) followed by the goods from shipper to consignee

RUSHR

Rush Reply

SASPO

As Soon As Possible

SAWB

Substitute Air Waybill

Scheduled revenue flights

Flights scheduled and performed for remuneration according to a published timetable, or so regular or frequent as to constitute a recognizably systematic series, which are open to direct booking by members of the public; and extra section flights occasioned by overflow traffic from scheduled flights. [ICAO]

Sea-Air

Product by which shipped goods move partly by sea/ocean transport and partly by air transport

Security surcharge

Surcharge added to the cargo rate to cover the additional costs of the increasing number of security checks and related administration that are legally required by the authorities

Shipper

The person or company that is physically and administratively responsible for shipping the goods ; for an airline in most cases a forwarder will be the shipper, for a forwarder the shipper is a third party, for example a trading company, a manufacturer, etc.

(see the “Shipping” page of this website also)

Shipper’s Letter of Instruction

Document issued by the shipper to instruct and authorize the forwarder to forward and declare goods on his behalf ; contains all shipment details needed to facilitate these services

Short shipped cargo

Cargo that was not fully loaded on board of an aircraft but which is nevertheless listed in the shipment's air waybill (and manifest). If the short shipment is known AFTER the bill has been issued and the aircraft departed, then the bill of lading will have to be split and the manifest will be amended with a manifest corrector showing the old shipment details and the new shipment details. The item that stayed behind must then be shipped on a next flight by the same carrier.

Show up rate

The percentage of bookings that actually show up for departure

SHPMNT

Shipment

Side loading

Loading cargo through a cargo door in the side of an aircraft (or a truck)

Skid

Pallet (made from wood or plastic) used to move cargo within the warehouse or onto a truck

S/L

Short Loaded

SLI

Shipper’s Letter of Instruction

Split shipment

A shipment that is split over different ULD’s traveling on the same flight / day

Spoilage

(The loss of revenue due to) unused aircraft cargo capacity

SSPD

Short Shipped ; stayed behind

SSR

Special Service Request

TACT

The Air Cargo Tariff ; publication of official airline tariffs

TBA

Time Before Arrival

TBD

Time Before Departure

Technical stop

A stop most commonly used to refuel the aircraft, to make unexpected essential repairs or to respond to some emergency need to land the aircraft. No traffic is unloaded or loaded during a technical stop. [ICAO]

TEMP

Temperature

Territory

A territory is a land mass which is part of or is administered by a country. In ICAO when data are shown by Country they include data for any entity in a territory administered by that country. When data are shown by Region data for territories are assigned to their regions which are usually different from that of the administering country. For example, Guadalupe and Martinique are overseas territories of France. When data are shown by Country, France will include any data for entities based in Martinique and Guadalupe. However, when data are presented by Region the data of any entity based in Guadalupe and/or Martinique will be shown under Latin America/Caribbean, whereas those based in the mainland will appear under Europe. [ICAO]

Through rate

Total rate from point of departure to point of destination. It may be a joint rate or a combination of rates.

TIACA

The International Air Cargo Association (see the page “Interest Organisations”)

TILNA

Tilting Not Allowed

TILTA

Tilting Allowed

Time Slot

The agreed time to collect or deliver goods

Tonne Kilometer

One tonne (1000 kg or 2204.6 lb) metric flown one kilometre ; productivity indicator for airlines

Tonne-kilometres available (TKA)

A tonne-kilometre is available when one tonne of payload capacity is flown one kilometre. Tonne-kilometres available equals the sum of the products obtained by multiplying the number of tonnes available for the carriage of revenue load (passengers, freight and mail) on each flight stage by the stage distance. [ICAO]

Tonne-kilometres performed (TKP)

A metric tonne of revenue load carried one kilometre. Tonne-kilometres performed equals the sum of the product obtained by multiplying the number of total tonnes of revenue load (passengers, freight and mail) carried on each flight stage by the stage distance. [ICAO]

TRA

Transit

Tracing

Retrieving (information on) the status of goods and documents

Tracking

Regular checking on the status of goods and documents

Track & Trace

Automated regular retrieval of (information on) the status of goods and documents and checking these against the agreed norms

Traffic

For air transport purposes, traffic means the carriage of passengers, freight and mail. [ICAO]

Transfer cargo

Transfer of cargo from one flight to another

Transito / Transit cargo

Transfer of cargo from one flight to another

TRM

Transfer Manifest

TTL

Total

ULD

Unit Load Device. See also: Aircraft Unit Load Device.

When used as a special handling code (non-IATA): Loose shipment destined to be built separately 1:1 on one ULD.

ULD, contoured

Unit Load Device ; a container or pallet shaped to exactly fit in a certain aircraft

UNACC

Unaccompanied

Unit Load Device

See: Aircraft Unit Load Device

Upper deck

Main deck ; the (cargo) deck above  the lower deck of an aircraft

VAL

Valuable cargo

VAT

Value Added Tax

VOL

Volume

Volume charge

Air transport charge based on the volume of goods instead of the actual weight (see “Dimensional Weight” and “Weight charge” also)

Volume cut

VUN

Vulnerable cargo

Weight charge

Air transport charge based on the actual weight of the goods (see “Dimensional Weight” and “Volume charge” also)

Weight & Balance

Management of the weight and allocation of cargo, passengers and fuel for a flight

Weight load factor

Tonne-kilometres performed expressed as a percentage of tonne-kilometres available. [ICAO]

Wide body aircraft

W/H

Warehouse

XPS

Priority Small Package (Express)

XS

In Excess

Yield management

The process of maximizing the contribution (revenue) of the (air cargo transport & handling) network, equipment, infrastructure and resources