Air Cargo & Ground Handling Glossary
Air freight and ground handling — air waybills, ULDs, dangerous goods and the acceptance and handling of cargo through the airport.
A
Air Charter
Hiring an entire aircraft for a specific cargo movement, rather than buying space on a scheduled flight.
Air Freight
The transport of goods by aircraft — the fastest mode, used for urgent, high-value and time-sensitive cargo.
Aircraft on Ground (AOG)Aircraft on Ground
An urgent status where an aircraft is grounded for want of a part, driving the most time-critical air logistics.
AWBAir Waybill
The standard transport document for international air cargo, issued by the airline (or its agent).
B
Belly Cargo
Cargo carried in the lower-deck holds of a passenger aircraft, alongside passengers' baggage.
C
Cargo Aircraft Only (CAO)Cargo Aircraft Only
A designation for dangerous goods that may only be carried on freighter aircraft, not on passenger flights.
Chargeable Weight
The weight a carrier bills on — the greater of actual weight and volumetric (dimensional) weight.
D
DG (Dangerous Goods)Dangerous Goods
Cargo that poses a risk to safety or the environment, regulated by IATA DGR (air) or IMDG (sea).
E
e-AWBElectronic Air Waybill
The paperless replacement for the traditional paper AWB, exchanged via EDI between forwarders and airlines.
e-Freight & e-AWB
IATA's industry initiative to replace paper air-cargo documents with electronic data, centred on the electronic air waybill.
F
Freighter Aircraft
An aircraft built or converted to carry cargo only, without passengers — the backbone of dedicated air freight.
G
GHAGround Handling Agent
A company that provides cargo handling, passenger handling, and aircraft servicing on behalf of airlines at airports.
H
House Air Waybill (HAWB)House Air Waybill
The air waybill a freight forwarder issues to an individual shipper within a consolidated air shipment.
I
IATAInternational Air Transport Association
The trade association of the world's airlines that sets standards for air transport, including air cargo.
IATA DGRIATA Dangerous Goods Regulations
The IATA manual governing the safe transport of dangerous goods by air.
Interline
The carriage of a shipment over two or more airlines under a single air waybill through an agreement between them.
K
Known Consignor
A shipper security-vetted to tender air cargo as secure, allowing it to move without further physical screening.
L
Live Animals (AVI)
The specialised carriage of live animals by air under strict welfare and regulatory rules (IATA LAR).
Liège Airport Cargo
A leading European cargo airport in Belgium, a major hub for express, e-commerce and freighter operations.
M
Master Air Waybill (MAWB)Master Air Waybill
The air waybill issued by the airline to the forwarder covering a consolidated air shipment.
P
Perishables
Time- and temperature-sensitive cargo — food, flowers, pharma — that degrades quickly and needs cool-chain handling.
R
Road Feeder Service (RFS)Road Feeder Service
Trucking that carries air cargo between airports under an air waybill, as a substitute for a flight leg.
S
Schiphol Airport Cargo
Amsterdam Schiphol, one of Europe's leading air-cargo hubs and a key gateway for high-value and perishable freight.
Split Shipment
A single consignment divided across more than one flight or vehicle when it cannot all travel together.
T
TACT (The Air Cargo Tariff)The Air Cargo Tariff
IATA's comprehensive reference of air cargo rates, rules and regulations used across the industry.
U
ULDUnit Load Device
A pallet or container used to load air cargo onto wide-body aircraft.
V
VCHSValuable Cargo Handling System
The end-to-end secure workflow for high-value cargo — precious metals, diamonds, currency, diplomatic mail — from receipt to aircraft to final delivery.
Volumetric Weight (Dimensional Weight)Volumetric Weight
A weight derived from a shipment's volume, used to charge light, bulky air cargo that takes up more space than its weight.
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