Cargo charter transport refers to when the cargo volume is large, the lessee (shipper/freight forwarder) leases the entire aircraft from an airline or charter agent, or several lessees charter the entire aircraft together (partial charter), for example, temporary charter flights for emergency rescue, dangerous goods, exhibitions, rare animals and oversized cargo.
The surge in cross-border logistics demand, the parcelization of foreign trade, the seasonal shortage of air transport capacity, and the inability of a large number of live cargo to be shipped through the belly of passenger aircraft have given regular charter flights a certain market foundation. “Charter + dedicated line + overseas warehouse + supply chain” is an ideal combination of import and export resource interaction. In addition to signing a fixed charter agreement with airlines, freight charter flights can also be opened for routes with large volumes. The cargo is directly shipped, which can save multiple shipping procedures, direct flights do not require transit, and ensure the timeliness of trunk lines. It is an important choice for clearing the cargo and mail market during the peak season. The charterers in the market include shippers, e-commerce, express delivery, freight forwarders and postal services. Aviation hubs have an obvious “siphon effect”, and international air transport is mostly concentrated in ports and airports with convenient customs clearance. Insufficient return cargo, millions of yuan in charter fees and deposits, and temporary air rights approval are all difficulties in the charter process.