A2A

Airport-to-airport

A2D

Airport-to-door

ADV

Advise, Advised, Advising

AEA

Association of European Airlines (see the page “Interest Organisations” of this website also)

Airline

Company operating aircraft between steady origin and destination airports

Airmail

Mail travelling by air

Air Operator

Company operating aircraft

Airport-to-airport

Transport from an airport of origin to an airport of destination

Allotment

Assigned volume on board of a flight / day

AOG

Aircraft On Ground ; materials expedited for repair of a grounded aircraft

AP

Airport

ARR

Arrive, Arrived, Arrival

Also a C2K milestone: ARR = cargo and documents arrived at airport of destination

ATA

Air Transport Association (see the page “Interest Organisations” of this website also)

ATA

Actual Time of Arrival

ATD

Actual Time of Departure

Authorisation

The commission to a certain person or body to act on behalf of another person or body ; the person or body can be authorised e.g. to issue air waybills or to collect freight

AVI

Live Animal(s)

AWB

Air Waybill

Backlog

Amount of goods still to be delivered or received and for which the planned or agreed date has expired

BAG

Baggage

Belly

Lower-deck cargo hold of an aircraft

BIG

Outsized cargo

Blocked-space agreement

A continuous reservation (allotment) for space at one or more flight / date combinations with an airline

Bonded Goods

Goods on which the customs duty has not yet been paid, and which therefore, are under the control of customs; usually in a Bonded warehouse.

Bonded warehouse

A depository for goods on which the customs duty has not been paid ; the warehouse proprietor must provide a bond (often in the form of a bank warranty or a mortgage) to the customs authorities as a security for any duties which may not be paid by the customer

Booking

Request for reservation of space on a flight/day, (to be) confirmed by the airline

Break Bulk Agent

A forwarder breaking the bulk: taking care of the unpacking and sorting of goods after the flight

Breakdown List

List of shipments carried in one consolidation (see also: Consolidation Manifest)

Broker

Person who acts as an agent or intermediary in negotiating contracts ; sometimes refers to a forwarder role

Bulk Cargo

Loose cargo not loaded on an ULD

C2K

Cargo 2000 (see the “Cargo 2000” page of this website)

Cargo Aircraft

Aircraft built with the purpose of carrying nothing else than cargo

Cargo assembly

The separate reception of parcels or packages and the holding of them for later dispatch as one consignment ; consolidator role

Cargo disassembly

The separation of one or more of the parcels or packages that are  part of a consignment for further distribution ; break bulk role

Carriage

Transport ; the process of conveying cargo from one point to another

Carrier

The party responsible for transport of goods from one point to another, this can be for example an airline or a forwarder (as a NVOCC)

CASS

Cargo Accounts Settlement System

CAO

Cargo Aircraft Only

CC

Charges Collect ; pay at moment of collection of the goods

CCS

Cargo Community System ; information system integrating the communication between air cargo parties at an airport

Certificate of Origin

A certificate proving the country of original production of goods ; used for customs declaration purposes

Charges collect

Charges as stated on the air waybill to be collected from the consignee

Charges prepaid

Charges as stated on the air waybill to be collected from the shipper

Claim

A written complaint about the execution of a contract of transportation by a carrier, combined with a demand for financial compensation

Classifying

Assigning the right import classification number to goods as part of the customs declaration process

CLR

Clear

CNEE

Consignee

COLL

Collect, Collected, Collecting

COMAT

Company Material (non revenue cargo)

Combi

Combi Aircraft, combining transport of passengers and cargo on the main-deck

Commodity

Indication of the type of goods ; commodities are coded according to the harmonised system

Commodity code

Code used in the Harmonised System for the classification of goods, which are mostcommonly produced and traded

Complaint

An official statement from a customer to a carrier about his unhappiness with the service or operation of the service provider

Consignee

The person or company that is physically and administratively responsible for accepting the goods at final delivery

(see the “Consignment” page of this website also)

Consolidation

A collection of shipments belonging to different shippers travelling to one destination or area to be distributed to several consignees

Consolidation Manifest

List of shipments carried in one consolidation

Consolidation Rates

Rates as given by a consolidator / forwarder

Consolidator

A forwarder consolidating shipments before a flight ; these shipments belonging to different shippers and travelling to one destination or area in order to be distributed to several consignees after the flight

Courier

Company that carries envelopes and parcels up to 75 kg from door to door ; air transport is generally outsourced to airlines

Courier Rates

Rates as given by a courier

CPTY

Capacity

CRN

Customs Release Note

Customs Agent / Broker (Certified)

Party certified to handle the customs clearance on account of importers / exporters

Customs invoice

(Pro forma) Invoice for import declaration (customs and statistics) purposes, stating the commercial price, added with the costs for freight, insurance and packing etc., terms of delivery and payment

Customs value

Value of goods to be imported for import declaration (customs and statistics) purposes

D2A

Door-to-airport

D2D

Door-to-door

Dangerous Goods

Goods that can be hazardous for health, flight-safety or materials

DAP

A C2K key performance indicator: DAP = Delivered As Promised (NFD in full and on time statuses are achieved)

DEP

A C2K milestone: DEP = cargo and documents departed at airport of origin

DEPT

Department

DG

Dangerous Goods

DGR

Dangerous Goods Regulations (IATA)

Dimensional Weight (Conversion)

Concept adopted by the transportation industry worldwide as a uniform means of establishing a minimum charge for the cubic space a package occupies ; the volume is converted into a (higher) weight / price class

(See the “Forwarding Out” page of this website also)

DIMS

Dimensions

DIP

Diplomatic mail

DLV

Deliver, Delivered, Delivering

Also a C2K milestone: DLV = cargo and documents delivered to customer (forwarder)

DOCS

Document(s), Documentation

Domestic transport

Transport within a country

Door-to-door

Transport from an initial shipper’s house address to a final consignee’s house address

Duty

Tax imposed on goods imported from another country

EDI

Electronic Data Interchange

EDIFACT

Electronic Data Interchange For Administration, Commerce and Transport ; a specific EDI protocol

e-Freight

Electronic freight documents project from IATA ; e-Freight aims to take the paper out of the air cargo supply chain and -processes and replace it with cheaper, more accurate and more reliable electronic messaging ; facilitated by IATA, the project is an industry-wide initiative involving carriers, freight forwarders, ground handlers, shippers and customs authorities

(See the “e-Freight” page of this website also)

Electronic Data Interchange

The interchange of electronic data, structured following an agreed protocol, between the automated information system of different parties

Embargo

An embargo on a certain kind of goods means these goods will not be transported by the airline, often for flight-safety reasons

Equipment

Materials needed to handle or transport goods

ESC

European Shippers’ Council (see the page “Interest Organisations” of this website also)

ETA

Estimated Time of Arrival

ETD

Estimated Time of Departure

Expediting

Forwarding goods (in less than the normal lead time)

Expeditor

Forwarder

FAK

Freight All Kinds

FAK-Rates

Rates for Freight All Kinds

FAP

A C2K key performance indicator: FAP = Flown As Planned (the complete shipment has flown at or before the last planned flight with a maximum 12 hour delay)

FCL

Full Container Load

FDCA

Found Cargo

FFM

Freight Forwarding Message (electronic)

FIATA

International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (see the page “Interest Organisations” of this website also)

FLT

Flight

Forwarder

Company specialized in providing door-to-airport transport, arranging connecting air transport and/or airport-to-door transport for parcels and consolidations > 75 kg or up to anything that fits in an aircraft ; the air transport is generally outsourced to airlines and sometimes aircraft operators or air charter companies

(See the pages “Forwarding In” and “Fowarding Out” of this website also)

Forwarder network

A network existing of different smaller to medium sized forwarding companies all over the world working together

Freighter

Aircraft built with the purpose of carrying nothing else than cargo

FSU

Freight Status Update

Fuel surcharge

Surcharge added to the cargo rate to cover the additional costs of increasing fuel-prices ; these will generally folow a certain index

Full charter

Chartering the full available volume of an aircraft or flight/day

Full Container Load

Container fully loaded, generally with goods belonging to one party

Full freighter

Aircraft built with the purpose of carrying nothing else than cargo

FWB

Electronic air waybill message

Also a C2K milestone: FWB = the shipment is booked at the airline, next an electronic air waybill is generated by agent (forwarder) ; this creates the so-called route map in C2K in which all the steps are followed

FYI

For Your Information

General Cargo Rates

Rates for all different kinds of cargo, not falling into a specific handling and/or rate category

GSA

General Sales Agent

GSF

Global Shippers Forum (see the page “Interest Organisations” of this website also)

Handling Agent

Agent handling the ramp and/or warehouse cargo operation for an airline

Harmonised System

A numeric multi purpose system for the classification of goods with its six digits covering about 5000 descriptions of the products or groups of products most commonly produced and traded, designed for customs purposes, but can also be used for statistics, transport purposes, export, import and manufacturing; the international convention on the HS was established under auspices of the World Customs Organisation in 1983

Haulage

Inland transport of cargo

Haulier

Road carrier

HEA

Heavy Cargo

HAWB

House Air Waybill

House Air Waybill

The shipment contract between the end-customer and the forwarder (see the page “Forwarding Out” of this website for further purposes and explanation)

Hub

Central point in a transport system or network

HUM

Human remains

HWB

House Waybill

IATA

International Air Transport Association (see the page “Interest Organisations” of this website also)

IATA-Agent

An IATA certified agent

ICAL

Inbound Cargo Action List

ICAO

International Civil Aviation Organisation (see the page “Interest Organisations” of this website also)

ICE

Dry Ice Shipment

IN

Inches

Inco terms

Internationally agreed set of standard delivery terms

Integrator

Carrier integrating different modes of transport to form a door-to-door transport or supply chain ; this term mostly refers to the large international express companies who’s core business is to carry envelopes and parcels up to 75 kg, often overnight or even same day

Intermodal Transport

The movement of cargo in a supply chain by more than one mode of transport ; for example road/air or sea/air transport

INV

Invoice

ISA

If Space Available

KG

Kilos

L/C

Letter of Credit

LCL

Less than Container Load

Less than Container Load

Container partly filled with goods from one party, or an amount of goods that is not sufficient to fill one container and will therefore likely be consolidated

LHO

Living Human Organs / Blood

License, import / export

Governmental permit to import / export certain goods under certain conditions

Line item

Order line, each line on a packing list or invoice to be declared for customs

Load factor

The extent to which the aircraft (weight-, volume-, ULD-) capacity is efficiently utilized (to generate profit)

LOC

Location

Loose cargo / shipments

Cargo / shipments not loaded on an ULD

Lower deck

The (cargo) deck below the main deck or upper deck of an aircraft

LT

Local Time

Main deck

Upper deck ; the (cargo) deck above  the lower deck of an aircraft

Manifest, flight

Document listing the air waybills and a specification of the related goods carried on a flight

Master Air Waybill

The shipment contract between the forwarder and the airline (see the page “Forwarding Out” of this website for further purposes and explanation)

MAWB

Master Air Waybill

MFST

Manifest

Minimum Rate

Rate to cover the basic costs of carrying a shipment

MSG

Message(s)

Network Forwarder

A large forwarding company with worldwide branches

NFD

A C2K milestone: NFD = cargo and documents ready for pick-up at airline (handler), the customer (forwarder) is notified

NND

Notice of Non Delivery

NON-IATA

Airline or agent that is not a member of IATA

Nose loading

Loading cargo through the cargo door in the nose of an aircraft

Notify address

Address of a party other than the consignee to be notified of arrival of the goods

Notify party

Party other than the consignee to be notified of arrival of the goods

NOTOC

Notification To Captain ; list for the captain of the aircraft with goods carried on board

N-Rates

Rates for shipments with weights up to 45 kg

NVOCC

Non Vessel Operating/Owning Cargo Carrier ; in case of Air Cargo a Carrier (e.g. a Forwarder or Consolidator) who issues Air Waybills for the carriage of cargo on aircraft which he does not  operate or own

OAG

Official Airlines Guide

OB

On Board

Oversized cargo

Cargo that exceeds the dimensions of an ULD

Package

Packed piece of cargo

Packing list

A list for customs declaration and consignment purposes stating number and kinds of packages being shipped, totals of gross, legal, and net weights of the packages, marks and numbers on the packages, contents and part-/serialnumbers

Pallet

A (standardized) platform on which goods can be stacked for transport or warehouse handling purposes

Pallet, aircraft

A (standardized) platform on which goods can be stacked for air transport purposes

Pallet net

A net used to secure the cargo on the aircraft pallet

Parcel

Package

Part charter

Chartering of a part of the available volume on an aircraft or flight/day

Part shipment

Part of a shipment that travels on a different flight and/or day than the rest of the shipment due to available capacity with the airline

PAX

Passenger(s)

Payload

The (cargo) load that can be carried by an aircraft (to generate revenue)

PC

Piece(s)

PER

Perishable Cargo

PFI

Pro Forma Invoice

POA

Proof Of Acceptance ; legal proof a shipment has been accepted by a party

POD

Proof Of Delivery ; legal proof a shipment has been delivered by a party

POD

Place Of Delivery

PP

Charges Prepaid

PPD

Prepaid

Pre-alert

Message stating the current and or expected status of the goods

Principal

The customer ordering the transport or related services

PSH

Part Shipment

QNTY

Quantity

Q-Rates

Rates with a quantity discount

RCF

A C2K milestone: RCF = cargo has arrived in the cargo bay at final destination ; cargo and airwaybill are administratively received in the system

RCPT

Receipt, Reception

RCS

A C2K milestone: RCS = cargo and documents are received 'Ready For Carriage' and accepted by airline (handler)

Ready For Carriage

(By Air) The goods are correctly packed and labeled, and customs cleared, with the right documents attached

Ready For Transport

(By Road) The goods are correctly packed and labeled, with the right documents attached

RFC

Ready For Carriage

RFT

Ready For Transport

Routing

The path that is (to be) followed by the goods from shipper to consignee

RUSHR

Rush Reply

SASPO

As Soon As Possible

SAWB

Substitute Air Waybill

Security surcharge

Surcharge added to the cargo rate to cover the additional costs of the increasing number of security checks and related administration that are legally required by the authorities

Shipper

The person or company that is physically and administratively responsible for shipping the goods ; for an airline in most cases a forwarder will be the shipper, for a forwarder the shipper is a third party, for example a trading company, a manufacturer, etc.

(see the “Shipping” page of this website also)

Shipper’s Letter of Instruction

Document issued by the shipper to instruct and authorize the forwarder to forward and declare goods on his behalf ; contains all shipment details needed to facilitate these services

SHPMNT

Shipment

Side loading

Loading cargo through a cargo door in the side of an aircraft

Skid

Pallet

S/L

Short Loaded

SLI

Shipper’s Letter of Instruction

SSPD

Short Shipped ; stayed behind

TACT

The Air Cargo Tariff ; publication of official airline tariffs

TBA

Time Before Arrival

TBD

Time Before Departure

TEMP

Temperature

TIACA

The International Air Cargo Association (see the page “Interest Organisations” of this website also)

TILNA

Tilting Not Allowed

TILTA

Tilting Allowed

Time Slot

The agreed time to collect or deliver goods

Tonne Kilometer

One tonne (1000 kg or 2204.6 lb) metric flown one kilometer ; productivity indicator

TRA

Transit

Tracing

Retrieving (information on) the status of goods and documents

Tracking

Regular checking on the status of goods and documents

Track & Trace

Automated regular retrieval of (information on) the status of goods and documents and checking these against the agreed norms

Transfer cargo

Transfer of cargo from one flight to another

Transito / Transit cargo

Transfer of cargo from one flight to another

TRM

Transfer Manifest

TTL

Total

ULD

Unit Load Device

ULD, contoured

Unit Load Device shaped to exactly fit in an aircraft

UNACC

Unaccompanied

Unit Load Device

Standardized air cargo loading equipment (pallet, container)

Upper deck

Main deck ; the (cargo) deck above  the lower deck of an aircraft

VAL

Valuable cargo

VAT

Value Added Tax

VOL

Volume

Volume charge

Air transport charge based on the volume of goods instead of the actual weight (see “Dimensional Weight” and “Weight charge” also)

VUN

Vulnerable cargo

Weight charge

Air transport charge based on the actual weight of the goods (see “Dimensional Weight” and “Volume charge” also)

Weight & Balance

Management of the weight and allocation of cargo, passengers and fuel for a flight

W/H

Warehouse

XPS

Priority Small Package

XS

In Excess

Yield management

The process of maximizing the contribution (revenue) of the (transport & handling) network, equipment, infrastructure and resources