The complete process of international air transportation consists of several steps
Many cross-border practitioners only focus on the air freight delivery time, but they are not familiar with the complete operation process of international air freight. They often make mistakes in the preparation of goods and the delivery to the warehouse, resulting in the goods not catching the flight or being delayed in the warehouse. International air freight has standardized and rigorous operation procedures. From booking the shipment to entering the warehouse and taking off, each step is closely linked. Mastering the process steps and time periods can precisely control the shipping rhythm and ensure the goods are dispatched on time.
The complete process of international air freight mainly consists of six core steps: booking the shipment, preparing the goods, delivering the goods to the warehouse, airport security check, customs declaration and release, and loading the aircraft. The first step, booking the shipment and preparing the goods, is the first step of the shipment. After the merchant confirms the shipping information, they submit the weight, size, name, destination and other materials to the freight forwarder. The freight forwarder connects with the airline to lock the space, confirm the flight and departure time, issue the booking receipt, and the merchant simultaneously completes the packaging and labeling of the goods. Regular booking can be operated 1-3 days in advance, while during peak seasons, it needs to be locked 5-7 days in advance.
The second step, preparing the materials, is completed during the synchronous preparation and shipment stage. The customs declaration form, commercial invoice, packing list, declaration elements and other materials are sorted out. For electrical products, additional compliance documents such as UN38.3 and MSDS need to be prepared to ensure that the information in the materials is consistent with the goods and avoid declaration errors. The third step, delivering the goods to the warehouse, based on the deadline for entering the warehouse specified in the booking receipt, the goods are delivered to the designated airport warehouse, completing the goods handover, weighing and measuring, confirming the final billing data, and generating the entry list.
The fourth step, airport security check, after the warehouse receives the goods, it will conduct a comprehensive security inspection of the goods to check for prohibited items and packaging hazards, ensuring that the goods meet the standards for air transportation. After the inspection is confirmed to be correct, the goods are stored and ready for shipment. The fifth step, customs declaration and release, customs declarants submit the materials to the customs for declaration. The customs reviews the materials and samples the goods, and if everything is correct, the goods will be released. If the materials are abnormal or the goods do not match, the goods will be temporarily detained for rectification. The final step, loading the aircraft, after the release, the goods are packed and boxed according to the flight plan, and the aircraft takes off after loading. After arriving at the destination, customs clearance and delivery are completed.
The time period from booking the shipment to entering the warehouse is divided into regular periods and peak seasons. During the normal off-peak period, after booking the shipment, the goods can be delivered to the warehouse within 1-2 days, and the entire process can be completed within 2-3 days for warehouse entry and release.