I. Main Participants in Air Freight

A single air freight shipment from shipper to consignee typically involves the following main participants:

Shipper → Freight Forwarder → Ground Handling Agent (GHA) → Airline → 
Destination GHA → Destination Forwarder → Consignee
          ↑
        Customs Broker assists

Overview of Participants

Participant Role Core Responsibilities
Shipper Goods provider Prepare goods, provide documents, pay freight charges
Freight Forwarder Logistics organizer Book space, customs clearance, build pallets, coordinate entire process
Airline Actual carrier Provide aircraft capacity, execute transportation
Ground Handling Agent (GHA) Airport operator Receive cargo, security screening, build pallets, load/unload aircraft
Customs Broker Customs service provider Export customs declaration, import clearance
Consignee Goods receiver Pick up cargo, pay customs duties

II. Freight Forwarder

The freight forwarder is the core organizer in the air freight chain. Forwarders do not own aircraft, but provide end-to-end logistics services by consolidating shipments and coordinating all links.

Core Services of a Freight Forwarder

Service Description
Space Booking Reserve cargo space with airlines on behalf of the shipper
Customs Clearance Arrange export declaration or import clearance
Palletization Assemble loose cargo onto ULDs
Documentation Prepare AWB, invoice, packing list, etc.
Tracking Track cargo status throughout the journey
Consolidation Combine multiple small shipments for better rates

Tiers of Freight Forwarders

Tier Characteristics Suitable Clients
First-tier Forwarder Direct contract with airlines, fixed space allocation Small to medium volume clients
Second-tier Forwarder Books space through first-tier, can offer more value-added services Small volume or special-needs clients
Direct Forwarder Serves both direct clients and peers, high flexibility Clients of various sizes

III. Airlines

Airlines (Carriers) are the actual executors of air freight, responsible for aircraft operation and cargo transportation.

Types of Air Freight Operations by Airlines

Type Description Representative Airlines
Passenger Airline Cargo Division Use belly hold of passenger aircraft + freighter aircraft China Southern Cargo, Air China Cargo, Cathay Cargo
All-Cargo Airlines Operate only freighter aircraft Cargolux, Atlas Air
Integrated Express Carriers Own freighter fleet + ground network FedEx, UPS, DHL, SF Express

Airline Capacity Distribution in the Pearl River Delta

Airport Main Cargo Airlines Characteristics
Guangzhou CAN China Southern (CZ) Largest cargo airline in South China, widebody freighters + belly capacity
Shenzhen SZX SF Airlines (PO), China Southern SF main hub, China's largest cargo airline
Hong Kong HKG Cathay (CX), FedEx, DHL Highest density of international airlines, most extensive global network

IV. Ground Handling Agent (GHA)

A Ground Handling Agent (GHA) is the ground service provider for airlines, responsible for physical cargo operations at the airport.

Core GHA Operations

Operation Description
Cargo Receipt Inspect packaging and documents, issue warehouse receipt
Security Screening X-ray or manual security check of cargo
Palletization / De-palletization Load cargo onto ULDs or unload from ULDs
Warehousing Temporary storage of cargo at the cargo terminal
Loading / Unloading Load ULDs onto aircraft or unload from aircraft on the apron

Major Cargo Terminals in the Pearl River Delta

Airport Main Cargo Terminal / Operator
Guangzhou CAN China Southern Cargo Terminal, Baiyun Airport International Cargo Terminal 1
Shenzhen SZX Shenzhen Airport Cargo Terminal, SF Express South China Aviation Hub
Hong Kong HKG HACTL (Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited), Asia Airfreight Terminal (AAT)

V. Regulatory Bodies

Body Role Impact on Air Freight
IATA Industry standard setting Rates, AWB format, DGR rules, ULD standards
ICAO International safety standards Aviation safety, security requirements
National Customs Authorities Import/export regulation Customs declaration, inspection, duties
National Civil Aviation Authorities Aviation regulation Route approval, safety oversight

Want to learn about the specific operations of each air freight link? Bofeng Logistics provides end-to-end air freight services from booking to delivery.

📞 Hotline: 130-7567-8958 | ✉️ Email: info@zhbfwl.com

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