It’s one of the most frequently asked questions by Businesses across the West Midlands: “Should we ship our Goods by Air or by Sea? Honestly, there is no better option for either mode. It depends on what you are shipping, how quickly the Goods need to arrive and your budgetary constraints. In this guide we will be comparing Air freight from Birmingham with Sea Freight from Birmingham side by side so that you can make an informed decision when choosing a method of international transportation for your next shipment.
At Beyond Logistics we arrange both modes daily for business of all sizes, and have seen first-hand how making the right choice can save a company thousands of pounds or rescue a deadline that looked impossible.
What are the main differences between Air freight and sea freight?
There is one fundamental difference between the two modes. Air freight travels by aircraft (either as part of a dedicated cargo plane, or in the belly of a passenger jet) while sea freight (often referred to as ocean freight) travels in shipping containers on cargo ships. The fundamental trade off here is clear, Air freight is faster but costs more money, while sea freight takes longer but costs significantly less money for larger shipments.
While speed and cost are the primary considerations when deciding whether to use Air freight versus sea freight, there are several other factors to consider. These include: Capacity, Environmental impact, Routing Flexibility and Cost. All of these will be discussed in detail below:
How long does Air freight typically take to deliver Goods compared to sea freight?
Air freight from Birmingham typically has a delivery Time frame of 1–5 business days to most locations worldwide. There are also express and next-flight out options available for truly urgent Shipments. Many direct services from UK airports provide connections to major hub airports in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North America within hours of departure.
The delivery timeframe for sea freight varies greatly depending on the route being used. Here are some approximate delivery Time frames for common routes:
Northern European Destinations: 3–7 Business Days
East Coast Usa Destinations: 10–14 Business Days
Middle Eastern Destinations: 14–21 Business Days
Indian/Pakistani Destinations: 18–25 Business Days
Far Eastern Chinese/destination destinations: 25–35 Business Days
You need to allow extra time to be added both at the beginning and end of your haulage time for inland haulage, port handling and customs clearance. However, if your supply chain has been able to plan four to six weeks in advance for your Goods, then you may find that sea freight offers dramatically better Costs than air freight.
Which is Cheaper: Air freight or Sea freight?
In general terms Sea freight is going to provide you with a cheaper option, sometimes up to 90% cheaper than air freight, depending upon the size of your consignment. The reason there is such a big price difference comes down to how each method of transportation charges:
Freight rates charged by airlines are calculated on what is referred to as “chargeable weight” which is the greater of either the actual weight of the item(s) being transported or the volumetric weight. So, this means that you are paying to transport the Volume of the item(s) rather than their weight. This makes air freight very expensive for large but lightweight items because you are essentially paying to use up all of the available space on the plane.
Freight rates charged by shipping lines work off the amount of space used inside containers. When shipping FCL (Full Container Load), you pay one set fee for the use of a standard-sized 20ft or 40ft container no matter how much product you place in it. When shipping LCL (less than container load), you are sharing container space with other shippers and therefore pay per cubic meter, this is typically the cheapest way to ship smaller quantities that would otherwise not justify using an entire container.
Here is a simple rule-of-thumb; if your shipment weighs over 500kg or measures more than two cubic meters and does not have to arrive quickly, ask for a quote for sea freight first. On the other hand, if you are shipping something small (under 100kg) and needs to get somewhere quickly, air freight quotes will likely offer you a more viable alternative once you take into account the financial benefits of expediting your products.
What are the right situations in which i would choose air freight?
Time is money and it really is. Production line parts, emergency spares, seasonal inventory that has to reach stores by a specific date etc. All these types of shipments require rapid transportation.
High value Goods including electronics, pharmaceuticals, luxury items etc. These types of shipments also require fast transportation so they do not incur unnecessary delays. Small/ light shipments while air freight is generally more expensive than sea freight, the cost differential becomes significantly smaller when transporting small/lightweight consignments. Reliability matters most airlines operate on a far more rigid schedule than shipping lines, offering fewer opportunities for lost/delayed shipments. Flight departure schedules are also easier to predict than sailing schedules, and airlines experience fewer disruptions caused by port congestion.
Shippers who send cargo by air out of Birmingham airport benefit from easy access to the airport itself, providing shorter collection to departure times and enabling same week delivery options to many parts of the globe.
What are the right situations in which i would choose Sea freight?
I choose Sea Freight when volume is large, furniture, machinery, large volumes of raw materials, full pallet loads etc. Are typically shipped in containers and therefore become economical through reduced unit prices. Costs must be kept low where shipping companies use sea freight when it provides the lowest possible Costs for regular, scheduled deliveries where lead times are known and planned for.
Heavy/oversized Good items that cannot practically or affordably be flown are typically too heavy or too large for shipping by air. Vehicles, industrial equipment etc. Sustainability matters for the world, where per tons of cargo by air freight produces approximately ten times the amount of CO2 produced by shipping the same volume of cargo by sea is also a consideration becoming increasingly important for environmentally conscious companies.
Containers shipped from Birmingham will travel from inland locations to a major UK deep-sea port (Felixstowe or Southampton) prior to being loaded onto ships, a process which should be managed seamlessly by an experienced forwarder.
Can I mix Air and Sea freight?
Yes, and savvy companies often do. One typical strategy is to send the majority of your shipment by sea, and then fly a portion of it ahead by air to meet urgent demand. Another option is to utilize a combination of sea and air transportation via hub ports to balance speed and cost on longer journeys. A competent freight partner will add significant value beyond just arranging space when blending modes of transportation like this.
Quick Comparison: Air Freight VS Sea Freight
Get the Right Freight Solution for Your Business
There isn’t just one option that fits all businesses. The most suitable way to send your goods may even be different for every shipment. The important thing is to have a reliable partner in whom you trust to consider the specific requirements of each shipment and provide you with the best options available.
Beyond Logistics provides Air Freight Services & Sea Freight Services throughout the United Kingdom. Our Head Office is located in Birmingham at 4 Henley Cres., Solihull B91 2JD. If you require urgent air cargo, cost-effective container shipping, or a combination of both we will offer you an objective comparison of the various options and advise which is the most suitable for your cargo, deadline and budget.
To receive a FREE air and sea freight comparison quotation call us now on +44(0)121 318 7888 or alternatively please visit beyondlogistics.co.uk today.