Air Freight
Air cargo is any property carried or to be carried in an aircraft. Air cargo comprises air freight, air express and airmail.
Different cargo can be transported by passenger, cargo or combi aircraft:
• Passenger aircraft use the spare volume in the airplane's baggage hold (the "belly") that is not being used for passenger luggage a common practice used by passenger airlines, who additionally transport cargo on scheduled passenger flights. Cargo can also be transported in the passenger cabin as hand-carry by an “on-board courier”. This practice can often be used to cross subsidise loss-making passenger routes that would otherwise be uneconomical to operate. A passenger aircraft can also be used as a preighter in which the entire passenger cabin is temporarily dedicated to carrying freight.
• Cargo aircraft are dedicated for the job they carry freight on the main deck and in the belly by means of nose-loading or side loading.
• Combi aircraft carry cargo on part of the main deck, before or after a passengers’ section, with side loading, and in the belly.