How Wideair handles air freight
Air cargo looks simple from the outside: a flight, an air waybill and a destination. In practice, whether a shipment moves smoothly depends on decisions made before it reaches the airport: the chargeable weight, packing and palletisation, airline acceptance rules, the right routing for the commodity, and whether documents match the cargo.
Wideair reviews these points with you first. We then book space with the airline, arrange pickup and export formalities, and follow the shipment through to destination handover. Because Wideair is an IATA-accredited cargo agent, bookings can be made directly with participating airlines rather than through layers of intermediaries.
What we coordinate
- Airport-to-airport, door-to-airport and door-to-door air movements
- Urgent, time-critical and high-value consignments
- General cargo, consolidated shipments and larger direct bookings
- Pharmaceutical, temperature-controlled, perishable and dangerous goods (subject to carrier acceptance)
- Pickup from locations across India, export documentation and airline booking
- Destination handover, with customs and delivery coordinated through our overseas network where required
Chargeable weight: what you actually pay for
Airlines charge on the greater of the actual gross weight and the volumetric weight. For most airlines, volumetric weight is calculated as length × width × height (in cm) × number of pieces ÷ 6,000. Light but bulky cargo is therefore charged on volume, which is why carton size and packing efficiency matter.
You can estimate it yourself with the chargeable weight calculator. Airlines may apply different conversion factors, so we confirm the final chargeable weight when the shipment is booked.
What we need to quote
| Detail | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Origin and destination airports or addresses | Determines routing options, pickup and delivery scope |
| Commodity description | Affects airline acceptance, documentation and any special handling |
| Pieces, gross weight and dimensions | Needed to calculate chargeable weight and check aircraft and ULD limits |
| Ready date and required delivery date | Sets the booking window and service level |
| Special requirements | Temperature range, DG classification, insurance, delivery terms (Incoterms) |
How an air shipment moves
- ReviewWe confirm cargo details, routing options and documents.
- PlanAirline, flight options, packing and pickup are agreed with you.
- ExecutePickup, export formalities, airline acceptance and departure.
- DeliverArrival, destination clearance and handover to the consignee.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
When should I choose air freight instead of sea freight?
Air freight suits urgent, high-value, perishable or schedule-critical cargo, and shipments where inventory cost or stock-outs outweigh the higher freight rate. Sea freight suits larger, less urgent and cost-sensitive volumes. We can compare both for your shipment.
How is air freight charged?
Normally on chargeable weight, which is the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight, plus origin and destination charges. The exact structure depends on the airline, route and service. We provide a written quotation for each shipment.
Can you move dangerous goods or pharmaceuticals by air?
Yes, subject to correct classification, packing, documentation and airline acceptance. See our dangerous goods and pharma and temperature-controlled pages.
Can you arrange pickup from my premises?
Pickup can be arranged from locations across India, and delivery can be linked at destination so the shipment moves door to door.