As the holiday season approaches, we’ve noticed that consumers are looking for quicker freight solutions to meet strict schedules. In this post, you will learn about the Sea/Air service, which provides a better and more efficient approach.
With exception of Sea Freight and Air Freight on their own, the Sea/Air service merges modes of freight transport, with Air Terminal serving as a gateway in between. As an instance, The goods will be transported by Sea Freight from point one to point two, where they will be transferred to an aircraft and transported to its final destination. Dubai Airport is an ideal hub for freight transportation. Because the Air Terminal has a big freight capacity, uplifting large loads at short notice is not a problem. In comparison to North Asia, the High season has a smaller impact in Dubai.
Well, there are many factors affecting transportation. When it comes to exporting perishable goods, hazardous chemicals, livestock, project forwarding, or any other commodities that demand quick delivery, you always look for the best and most dependable alternatives. A combination of sea and air freight could be the smart option.
It may appear at first that this joint transportation method, which we term as Sea-Air, would be of value to most importers, but it comes out that there are numerous scenarios in which exporters and importers might gain from this out-of-the-ordinary transportation strategy. When shippers need a more cost-effective choice than air freight but a faster option than ocean freight, this unusual combination comes in handy.
The sea freight is normally transported by sea first and then by air cargo in this method. Many business owners have turned to this particular service to assist them to achieve tight delivery dates while also saving money on delivery charges. This combo has its own set of benefits and drawbacks, which are stated below:
Advantages of Sea/Air Combination
Lower Cost
Air cargo alone can be exceedingly pricey, if not outright prohibitively so. Moving your products part of the way via ocean to a port with a large air hub from which you can obtain favorable air freight rates might save a shipper a lot of money compared to flying the full route. In many cases, this can be accomplished by simply adding a few days of transit to your journey, enabling you to deliver on time while conserving up to 25% on travel expenses.
Transit Time is Reduced
Maritime transport alone can take very long; with this combined technique, the shipment arrives at its ultimate stop far faster than if it were sent via ocean solely. On routes with a long ocean transit time, the combination technique is very effective. Transit time from Nhava Sheva, India to Toronto, Canada, for example, might take anything from 30 to 45 days. The trip time, however, can be considerably decreased by combining marine and air routes. Shipments from Mumbai, India, can be carried to Dubai via maritime transportation, with a journey duration of approximately four days. Air freighting to Toronto would take a couple of days from there. Overall, the transit time might be lowered to less than 9 or 10 days using the combined technique. Depending on the distance, you may be able to send goods from Asia to Europe, the Americas, or Africa in as little as 2-3 weeks.
Less Requirement For Storage
With shorter transportation times, you may have less need for storage and maintaining as much product on hand, lowering these costs as well. More cash flow for other business activities means a smaller inventory. Additionally, providers can get rid of things they no longer desire on their premises, while purchasers can use less costly warehousing choices at foreign air hub terminals instead of holding products at high-cost per-foot storage areas.
However, everything has its benefits and drawbacks that you must consider. The nature of consignment is the most important thing and you always choose the mode of transportation that suits the best to your product.
The Main Drawbacks of Combining Sea and Air Transportation
Weight and Size Limitation
This hybrid model involves an express delivery leg, and as we all know, air carriers have weight and size restrictions that cannot be circumvented. The water can transport virtually any weight and dimension of cargo, whereas airplane carrying capabilities are limited. If you’re transporting over-dimensional items, Sea-Air might not be the best option.
Dangerous Commodities vs. General Transport
While the majority of Hazardous Material shipments may be handled by sea, there is some DG cargo that some air carriers will not accept. In such instances, the combination of ocean and air will not function.
Time Sensitive Cargo
Depending on the kind of transportation employed, delays can occur. While major airlines are known for their dependability and ability to stick to their schedules, ocean carriers may not necessarily have the same track record. This is why, when it comes to time-sensitive goods, this pairing isn’t always successful.
To summarise, the Air-Sea technique can be a cost-effective strategy to save money without significantly increasing transportation time. This is a good alternative to explore if your shipments do not need to arrive at their destination right away.
