Logistic services

Air Transport: A Brief Look Into The Advantages And Disadvantages

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The 20th century was a tough time for the world. Amidst raging wars and geographical boundaries emerged a hope that would transform the future of transport: Airplanes.

Airways are a very recent addition to the transport mix hence they don’t own a good share in the market. As time passes by, more and more companies are contemplating air transport and its potential. It is the fastest mode of transport available in the world but it is also very expensive.

As great as air cargo is, it comes with its own set of advantages and limitations. The logistics services industry is always in a dilemma with airways due to its high cost but effectiveness. So today we’ll have a brief look at the pros and cons of opting for air transport.

Advantages

Speed

Air transport is the fastest option available, it can deliver goods within hours. What’s more there is uninterrupted journey, airplanes don’t halt from time to time like trains or roads and even ships at times.

Single Route

Airplanes have a single route, they don’t have to travel through seas, mountains and forests so the journey is quicker and safe from most natural calamities.

Easy Availability

Most airlines are operated by the private sector, hence the availability is not an issue. If you have emergency deliveries then it’s the best option for consideration.

Clean And Easy Services

Airlines are extremely clean and well-maintained. You can rest assured that your goods are in good hands and will be delivered damage-free.

Great For Light Weight And High Valuable Goods

Have extremely fragile or valuable goods like antiques? Airlines have the capability to provide you with extreme safety and care. Thanks to thorough checks and extra safety precautions that the mode of transport needs.

Disadvantages

Expensive

As you may have noticed, airlines are extremely heavy on your pockets. You need a high budget to compete with costly fares and that would not be favourable for your business in the long term.

Weather Conditions

Although airlines are not plagued with various natural calamities, most of the business is highly dependent on weather conditions and climate change. Things like rainfall, fogg, snow, storms etc can hamper operations and lead to cancellation of flights and schedules.

Accidents

Airlines are safe, but they are not immune to risk of accidents. Like any other mode of transport, airlines can meet with accidents anytime so dependency is highly unreliable.

Goods Size

Due to fixed weight guidelines, you cannot transport heavy goods in airlines. So if your business is into heavy equipment like machinery, oil etc, then airlines are not a feasible option for you.

Skills

Huge capital is required to build aeroplanes and infrastructure so building your own in-house airline transportation is costly. Apart from this, you need specially trained pilots who possess the necessary skills to handle an aircraft. Therefore, unlike roads and ships, you cannot build your own in-house facility.

Conclusion

With airways, the cons overwhelm the pros, perhaps this is why the sector has not properly developed yet. Airlines are perfect for lightweight transport or relocation business, but you cannot imagine relying on it for logistics support.

Two main reasons for this include: cost and weight. As long as there are no solutions for it, airlines will stay as one of the least preferred modes of transport, even if they have the advantage of speed.

Nitin O Mahipal - MD of Mega group

Nitin O Mahipal - MD of Mega group

Hi. I am Nitin O Mahipal the Managing Director of Mega Group that offers Logistics and Relocation services across India. After my Masters in the UK, I reluctantly joined Mega and scaled up the logistics operations amidst industry challenges. I look forward to your views on the blog. Thank you.