01 · Logistics as a service · Freight

Air freight

Consolidated bookings that reduce per-kilo costs, real-time rate benchmarking, and cargo status from acceptance to delivery.

IATA certified Express Standard Deferred Charter

Smartports advantage

Smartports secures air freight capacity through a curated network of commercial carriers and charter operators across all major global trade lanes. Our air cargo service is designed for speed-sensitive supply chains: consolidated bookings reduce per-kilo costs, real-time rate benchmarking ensures competitive pricing, and our digital platform provides cargo status from acceptance to delivery.

Whether it’s a full charter for industrial equipment or a consolidation of perishable goods between any two points on the globe, Smartports treats air freight as a strategic lever - not just a faster alternative to ocean.

Key capabilities

Network

Carrier network

Curated network of commercial airlines and charter operators with allocated capacity on key corridors. Carrier-agnostic selection for optimal cost-transit combinations.

Pricing

Rate benchmarking

Real-time rate comparison across carriers and service levels. Transparent pricing with no hidden surcharges - chargeable weight calculated automatically.

Consolidation

Consolidation services

Multiple shipments combined to reduce per-kilo costs. Ideal for mid-volume shippers who need air speed without charter-level spend.

Visibility

End-to-end visibility

Cargo status from acceptance to delivery. Automated notifications at acceptance, departure, arrival, customs clearance, and final delivery milestones.

Charter

Charter & part-charter

Full aircraft charter for project cargo, industrial equipment, and time-critical oversized shipments. Part-charter options for large consolidated volumes.

Special cargo

Perishable & special cargo

Temperature-controlled handling for perishables, pharmaceuticals, and sensitive goods. Dangerous goods certified under IATA DGR. Special handling protocols for high-value cargo.

Schedules

Weekly schedules

Published weekly schedules for all your inbound and outbound air routes. Full visibility on flight frequencies, cut-off times, and transit days per carrier and service level for every active lane. Leveraging our block space agreements with major carriers, we secure guaranteed allotments on high-demand routes - ensuring capacity even during peak seasons and reducing the risk of bumped shipments or last-minute rate surges.

Benchmarking

Cost benchmarking & freight audit

We audit up to 10 years of air freight spend per kg and AWB, contrasting prices paid against the Smartports Global Index and the actual rates paid by other players with similar volumes and cargo characteristics operating at market level. Reports are delivered exclusively to owners, shareholders, and C-suite - providing an independent, conflict-free view of pricing efficiency and vendor alignment.

Top 25 cargo airlines

IATA WATS ranking by Cargo Tonne-Kilometres (CTK) - 2024 data. Global Top 25 demand grew 9.4% year on year.

#	Airline	Type	CTK (M)	YoY
1	FedEx Express	Integrator	18,100	+1.2%
2	Qatar Airways Cargo	Combination	15,200	+5.6%
3	Emirates SkyCargo	Combination	14,500	+12.3%
4	UPS Airlines	Integrator	13,200	+2.1%
5	Turkish Airlines	Combination	11,800	+18.4%
6	Cathay Cargo	Combination	10,500	+15.2%
7	Korean Air Cargo	Combination	9,800	+8.1%
8	Singapore Airlines Cargo	Combination	8,900	+10.5%
9	Cargolux	All-cargo	8,200	+4.3%
10	China Airlines	Combination	7,500	+11.2%
11	Air China Cargo	Combination	7,200	+6.4%
12	Lufthansa Cargo	Combination	6,800	+3.5%
13	ANA Cargo	Combination	6,500	+9.3%
14	EVA Air Cargo	Combination	6,200	+7.8%
15	China Southern Cargo	Combination	5,800	+5.1%
16	Ethiopian Airlines Cargo	Combination	5,500	+14.6%
17	Atlas Air	All-cargo	5,200	+3.2%
18	British Airways	Combination	4,900	+6.7%
19	Air France-KLM Cargo	Combination	4,700	+8.4%
20	Asiana Airlines	Combination	4,500	+4.2%
21	LATAM Cargo	Combination	4,270	+6.9%
22	IAG Cargo	Combination	4,100	+5.3%
23	Japan Airlines Cargo	Combination	3,900	+7.1%
24	Saudia Cargo	Combination	3,700	+12.0%
25	Polar Air Cargo	All-cargo	3,500	+6.2%

Source: IATA World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) - 2024 data. CTK = Cargo Tonne-Kilometres.

Need air capacity?

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