THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FREIGHT AIRCRAFT
Air freight, generally chosen for its speed and flexibility in international delivery, depends on the type of aircraft used. These may be passenger or freighter airliners, or in some cases they may be chartered expressly for a specific order. Here’s an overview of the different types of aircraft available.
AIRLINERS
Airliners are used for commercial passenger transport over varying distances. However, depending on the type of goods and volumes you wish to ship, it is very common to allocate cargo space on this type of aircraft.
CARGO AIRCRAFT
Cargo aircraft are specially designed for international freight transport. They are equipped with large loading doors, enabling customized transport of your goods. There are several types of aircraft to meet your needs, from small cargo planes to wide-body jets.
- Feeders: transport capacity up to 30 tonnes of freight over medium-haul distances.
- Regional-Freighters: transport capacity between 25 and 65 tonnes over medium-haul distances.
- Long-range freighters: transport capacity between 50 and 70 tonnes over medium and long-haul distances.
- Large freighters: transport capacity up to 110 tonnes. Large freighters include the largest cargo aircraft. The best-known are the Antonovs. However, not all airports can accommodate aircraft of this size.
Choosing an aircraft to transport your goods therefore essentially depends on the volume, weight, budget and distance involved, as well as the type of goods. Certain dangerous goods, for example, are not allowed to be loaded onto a commercial airliner.
Our dedicated air transport teams are at your disposal to advise you on a daily basis on the choices best suited to your needs.
