The Advent of Air-Freight

07 Mar The Advent of Air-Freight

Although most cargo moves over the ocean, various factors have fueled the swift expansion of air freight since World War II. For example, the postwar push to open global markets decreased the cost of air freight and increased its viability. By the mid- 1960s, the advent of the jet engine allowed for faster and longer-range aircraft to regularly reach far-off destinations and further decreased the real cost of air freight. The improved ground handling facilities and the greater use of containers helped to increase the speed benefits air freight offered over other transport modes. Finally, airlines realized that air freight was a way to fully utilize their assets (particularly wide- body aircraft) and promote profits.