What Is Airline Cargo (Airline Freight)?

Airline cargo — also called air freight or airline freight shipping — refers to goods transported on commercial aircraft. Unlike sea freight (which moves in containers on cargo ships), airline cargo uses the same planes that carry passengers, plus dedicated all-cargo freighter aircraft operated by cargo airlines.

For Sri Lanka freight, virtually all airline cargo moves through Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake. Understanding how airline cargo works helps you make better decisions about routing, documentation, and cost.

Two Types of Aircraft Carrying Cargo to Sri Lanka

Belly-Hold Cargo (Passenger Aircraft)

Passenger aircraft carry cargo in the lower deck holds beneath the cabin floor, alongside checked passenger baggage. The remaining space after baggage is offered as belly cargo capacity.

How it works:

Your freight forwarder books belly-hold space with the airline's cargo division (e.g., Emirates SkyCargo, Qatar Airways Cargo, SriLankan Cargo)

Cargo is palletised or containerised into airline Unit Load Devices (ULDs) at origin

Cargo departs on the same flight as passengers — schedule is fixed and reliable

Capacity is limited by how much baggage passengers bring on that flight

Most air freight into Sri Lanka moves as belly cargo — it is the most cost-effective and widely available option.

All-Cargo Freighter Aircraft

Some cargo airlines operate dedicated freighter flights that carry no passengers — the entire aircraft is cargo. At BIA, dedicated freighter operations are primarily run by Emirates SkyCargo and integrators like DHL.

Freighter flights are typically more expensive than belly-hold, but offer:

Larger shipment sizes (up to 50–70 tonnes per flight)

Fewer restrictions on dangerous goods and oversized items

More predictable capacity — not affected by passenger baggage fluctuations

How the Airway Bill (AWB) Works

The Airway Bill (AWB) is the fundamental document in airline cargo — equivalent to the Bill of Lading in sea freight.

Master Airway Bill (MAWB)

The MAWB is issued by the airline and covers the shipment from origin airport to destination airport. It names:

The airline (carrier)

Origin and destination airport codes (e.g., LHR → CMB)

The consignee — usually the freight forwarder at destination

Total weight and pieces

House Airway Bill (HAWB)

When a freight forwarder consolidates multiple shippers' goods, they issue a House Airway Bill to each shipper. The HAWB covers:

The forwarder-to-forwarder movement

Your specific cargo within the consolidated shipment

The actual consignee (the Sri Lanka importer)

For Sri Lanka customs, the HAWB number is what your clearing agent uses to file the Bill of Entry in ASYCUDA.

Cargo Classifications at BIA

Airlines classify cargo by type, which affects handling charges and what is accepted:

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For Sri Lanka, the most common special cargo types are perishables (exported fresh flowers and seafood) and valuables (imported gems and exported Ceylon gemstones).

Air Freight Surcharges to Know

Airline cargo rates are built from a base rate plus surcharges. When comparing quotes, ensure all surcharges are included:

Fuel Surcharge (FSC) — linked to jet fuel price; fluctuates monthly

Security Surcharge (SSC) — covering cargo screening costs

Destination / Origin Charges — handling fees at BIA and the origin airport

Congestion Surcharge — applied to busy lanes or during peak seasons

Oversize Surcharge — cargo exceeding ULD dimensions or airline limits

Always ask your freight forwarder for an all-in rate including surcharges for a fair comparison.

How to Book Airline Freight to Sri Lanka

You do not book directly with the airline for most commercial shipments — you book through a freight forwarder who holds an IATA cargo agent licence and has contracted rates with multiple airlines.

The process:

Contact your freight forwarder with cargo details: origin city, weight, dimensions, goods description, and required delivery date

Forwarder checks availability across carriers and quotes you a rate including all charges

You confirm the booking — the forwarder books space with the airline

Cargo is collected or dropped off at origin — forwarder arranges pickup from your supplier

AWBs are issued — MAWB by the airline, HAWB to you by the forwarder

Cargo departs on the booked flight

Sri Lanka clearing agent receives AWB details and begins filing the customs entry

Cargo arrives at BIA, clears customs, and is delivered to your address

Transit Times: Key Routes into Sri Lanka

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Door-to-door times include origin collection, BIA handling, customs clearance and inland delivery.

Freight Express Logistics: Airline Cargo Services

We hold IATA cargo agent accreditation and have contracted rates with Emirates SkyCargo, Qatar Airways Cargo, SriLankan Cargo, Singapore Airlines Cargo and others. We consolidate cargo weekly from China, UAE, UK and India into BIA.

Services include:

Origin booking and pickup coordination with your supplier

Consolidation for shipments under 100 kg (cost saving vs a direct AWB)

BIA customs clearance — same-day entry filing and duty payment

Inland delivery — door-to-door across Sri Lanka

Airline Cargo to Sri Lanka: How Airline Freight Shipping Actually Works