How to find the right air and sea freight partner
Enhance your international logistics and shipping strategy
In today’s connected world, businesses regularly forge global partnerships that require effective shipping strategies — but where do you start when evaluating logistics solutions? A reliable freight forwarding partner makes the difference between successful supply chains and those that come up short.
There isn’t one correct or all-encompassing shipping solution. Your logistics plan should reflect the needs of your organization. Even within the same industry, differing business models may dictate a company’s decision to rely on air or sea transportation. As you launch or expand your import and export programs, review these key considerations before moving ahead with a logistics solution.
What to look for in an air freight logistics provider
Air freight is a strong option for time-sensitive shipments, offering speed and reliability. While typically more expensive, the right logistics provider can optimize routing and service levels to reduce total landed cost—and faster transit can improve inventory velocity. As you evaluate a freight forwarder, focus on these key considerations:
Network leverage
As with sea freight, a resilient global network is critical to air shipment success. Look for a partner that accelerates speed to market through strategic gateways and flexible trucking hubs. Broad cartage coverage supports efficient ground transport, and strong airline relationships with secured capacity enable expedited service at more competitive rates.
Adaptable solutions
Prioritize selecting a provider that designs solutions around your requirements—not a one-size-fits-all model. An experienced, well-connected partner can align your product needs with lower-cost options (e.g., consolidated services or alternate gateways) without sacrificing performance. Value-added capabilities such as end-to-end visibility and customs clearance further strengthen service and control.
Service flexibility
As your air freight strategy evolves, you need a provider that can scale with you—including urgent, short-notice moves. Choose a partner with a full range of domestic and international options and clear service tiers, so you can balance speed, cost, and risk for everything from routine shipments to last-minute exceptions.
Selecting a shipping option: ocean vs. air
When companies grow internationally or adjust business models, identifying the correct ocean or air shipping method can be challenging. To determine the best mode of transportation for your goods, here are two important considerations:
Your budget
Financial constraints constantly occupy the mind of business decisionmakers, but it’s worth noting that traditional guidelines about sea and air transit costs may not always apply.
While sea freight is generally less expensive than air freight, the slower timing may cause missed revenue opportunities. Budget should be a factor in your decision, but so should customer expectations and your bottom line.
Business timelines
Transit time should also be considered when selecting your shipping needs. Though typically more expensive, air shipments can arrive in days, whereas sea freight can take weeks depending on routing. However, ocean trips between some locations (such as Asia to the U.S. West Coast) are quicker than others.
Air freight’s pinpoint, airport-to-airport service can greatly reduce ground transport mileage compared to sea freight, allowing your business to capitalize on time-sensitive or fast-moving products.
How can AIT help me with air and ocean logistics?
With more than 45 years of logistics experience, AIT creates air and sea freight solutions that conform to your business’ evolving needs.
We support shipments for almost every industry, with transportation plans customized to accommodate your organizational needs. Our established relationships with ocean carriers and airlines grant us access to competitive rates and capacity, which translate to savings and faster transportation for your freight.