air freight

American  

noun

1. a system of transporting freight by aircraft.

   Ship it by air freight.

2. freight transported by aircraft.

3. the charge for such transportation.

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air freight British  

noun

1. freight transported by aircraft

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verb

1. (tr) to send (goods) to their destination by aircraft

Other Word Forms

• air freighter noun

Etymology

Origin of air freight

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

“With good flexibility in the supply chain and a low proportion of air freight, there are opportunities to adapt the flow of goods to changed conditions,” the company said.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

With good flexibility in the supply chain and a low proportion of air freight, there are opportunities to adapt the flow of goods to changed conditions, it added.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Kathleen Brooks, research director at trading platform XTB, noted that the Middle East sees 18 percent of air freight.

From Barron's • Mar. 2, 2026

While transporting food by sea comes at a lower environmental cost than air freight, maritime shipping accounts for 3% of global greenhouse emissions.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

Gey’s air freight shipping system worked fine for sending a few cells to colleagues here and there, but it was too expensive for shipping on a massive scale.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot