Because goods are being air freighted, this doesn't mean they will be protected from the rigours of various handling processes that happen en route. It has been estimated that a package can be loaded/re-loaded/stowed up to 60 times during a typical international transit, so good quality packaging is essential.

When planning to package your goods, you might want to consider the following:

Will your product withstand damage if other, heavier packages are stacked on top of yours en route? Make sure that your outer packaging is appropriate, strong and secure.

Stabilise your goods within the packaging - use a filling material, such as expanded polystyrene beads or bubble wrap.

Try to gather your smaller shipments into a larger package/case/pallet to reduce stress on individual consignments and avoid small packages getting lost in transit.

Check that your destination country hasn't banned the use of certain packaging materials - eg many countries require packaging made from wood products to be treated for infestation and marked to this effect. See our guide on wood packaging.

When packing goods, you should also bear in mind that they will be moved by road between premises and airports, and often held in storage en route. Ground transportation methods add their particular set of packaging, paperwork, insurance and safety considerations to how you should pack and prepare your goods for transit.

( linda )21 Sep,2011

Other News:
Advice on Packaging
Transporting Dangerous Goods by Rail
Community Authorisation Road Haulage Permits
Security for Airfreight
Transporting Freight through the Channel Tunnel Rail Link
Bilateral Road Haulage Permits
Airfreight Industry Regulations
Key Rail Transport Documents