Air Freight Glossary
Clear explanations of air freight, customs and transport terminology, reviewed by the EMEX EXPRESS operations team.
- AWB / Air Waybill
The Air Waybill is the central transport document for an air freight shipment and records key information about the shipper, consignee, route and goods.
- MAWB and HAWB
MAWB and HAWB represent different levels of an air freight shipment: the airline movement and the individual customer shipment within that movement.
- Chargeable weight
Chargeable weight is the basis for air freight pricing and is generally the higher of the shipment’s actual gross weight and volumetric weight.
- Volumetric weight
Volumetric weight converts the space occupied by a shipment into a calculated weight that can be compared with its actual gross weight.
- EORI number
An EORI number identifies economic operators to customs authorities across the European Union and is required for many customs procedures.
- ATLAS export declaration
ATLAS is Germany’s electronic customs system used to submit export declarations and exchange customs messages for the clearance process.
- HS code / tariff number
HS codes and customs tariff numbers classify goods for customs purposes and affect duties, licences, restrictions and statistical reporting.
- Incoterms
Incoterms define which transport costs, tasks and risks are allocated to the seller and buyer under a sales contract.
- Dangerous goods / DGR
Dangerous goods are substances or articles that create specific risks in air transport and must therefore be classified, packed, marked and documented correctly.
- ULD
Unit load devices combine cargo for safe and efficient aircraft handling using standardised containers or pallets secured with nets.
- ETD, ETA, ATD and ATA
These four time references distinguish planned from actual departure and arrival times and form important milestones in shipment tracking.
- Consolidation
Air freight consolidation combines several individual shipments into one master shipment moving on the same route.