Commonly used airlift terms in Chinese and English

ATA/ATD (Actual Time of Arrival / Actual Time of Departure): Abbreviation for actual arrival/departure time.

Air Waybill (AWB): A document issued by the shipper or in the name of the shipper as proof of the carriage of the goods between the shipper and the carrier.

Baggage, Unaccompanied: Baggage that is not checked and carried by you and checked by consignment.

Bonded Warehouse: In this warehouse, or objects can be stored without deadlines without paying import duties.

Bulk Cargo: Bulk cargo that has not been loaded into the pallet and loaded into the container.

CAO (Cargo for Freighter Only): An abbreviation for "Cargo only Freighter Only", which means that it can only be carried by cargo aircraft.

Charges Collect: The fee charged to the consignee is stated on the air waybill.

Charges Prepaid: Sets out the shipper’s fees on the air waybill.

Chargeable Weight: The weight used to calculate air freight. The billing weight can be a volumetric weight, or when the cargo is loaded on a vehicle, subtract the weight of the vehicle from the total weight of the vehicle.

CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freightage): refers to “cost, insurance, and freight”, that is, C&F plus the seller’s insurance against loss or damage to the purchase of the goods. The seller must sign a contract with the insurer and pay the premium.

Consignee: The person whose name is listed on the air waybill and receives the goods shipped by the carrier.

Consignment: The carrier receives one or more pieces of the shipper’s goods at a certain time and place, and ships to a destination with a single air waybill.

Consignor: Equivalent to the shipper.

Consolidated Consignment: A consignment of goods consigned by two or more shippers. Each shipper has an air cargo contract with the consignment agent.

Consolidator: A person or institution that collects goods into a consignment.

COSAC (Community Systems for Air Cargo): Abbreviation for "high knowledge" computer system. It is the information and central logistics management computer system of Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited.

Customs: A government agency responsible for import and export tariffs, smuggling, and narcotics trading and abuse (in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Customs).

Customs Code: A code added by a Customs Code (C&ED) for a batch of goods to indicate the result of the customs clearance or to ask the cargo operator/consignee what clearance action to take.

Customs Clearance: Customs procedures that must be completed for the carriage or pickup of goods at origin, transit and destination.

Dangerous Goods: Dangerous goods are articles or substances that may pose a significant threat to health, safety, or property during air transport.

Declared Value for Carriage: The value of the goods declared by the shipper to the carrier. The purpose is to determine the shipping costs or set the carrier’s liability for loss, damage or delay.

Declared Value for Customs: Applies to the value of the goods declared to the customs for the purpose of approving the amount of the customs duty.

Disbursements: Charges paid by the carrier to the agent or other carrier and then charged to the consignee by the final carrier. These charges are usually collected for the freight and miscellaneous fees paid by the paying agent or other carrier for transporting the goods.

EDIFACT (Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transportation): Abbreviation for "Management, Commercial, and Transportation Electronic Data Exchange." DIFACT is an international standard for the syntax of messages used for electronic data exchange.

Embargo (Embargo) means the carrier's refusal to transport any goods, any type or grade of goods on any route or part of it or on any part of the carrier to or from any area or place within a certain period of time.

ETA/ETD (Estimated Time of Arrival / Estimated Time of Departure): The abbreviation of estimated arrival/departure time.

Export License: A government license that allows a permit holder (shipper) to export specified goods to a specific destination.

FIATA (Federation Internationale des Associations de Transitaires et Assimilées): FIATA licensee - is licensed to issue FIATA documents in Hong Kong [FIATA bill of lading (FBL) as a shipper and shipping agent receipt (FCR)] [FIATA Bill of Member of Lading (FBL) "as Carrier" & Forwarders Certificate of Receipt (FCR). Guaranteed by freight forwarder liability insurance (minimum liability limit: US$250,000).       

FOB (Free on Board): Under the condition of "ship on board", the goods are loaded by the seller at the port of shipment designated by the sales contract. The risk of loss of or damage to the goods is transferred to the buyer when the goods pass through the ship's side (ie after leaving the terminal on board the vessel) and the loading and discharging fee is paid by the seller.

FOB Airport: This term is similar to general FOB terms. After the seller delivers the goods to the air carrier at the departure airport, the risk of loss is transferred from the seller to the buyer. Forwarder An agent or company that provides services (such as receipt, transfer, or delivery) to assure and assist in the transportation of goods.

Gross Weight: The total weight of the shipment, including the weight of the container and packaging material.

HAFFA (Hong Kong Air Freight Forwarding Association): The abbreviation of Hong Kong Freight Forwarding Association Limited (HAFFA), founded in 1966, is a non-profit organization that promotes, protects and develops the Hong Kong cargo transportation industry.

Freight Forwarder Air Waybill (HAWB) (House Air Waybill): This document consists of a single shipment of assembled cargo that is issued by a mixed cargo collector and includes instructions to the demolition agent.

IATA (International Air Transport Association): Abbreviation for International Air Transport Association. IATA is an organization of the air transport industry that provides services to airlines, passengers, shippers, travel service agents and the government. The association aims to promote the safety and standardization of air transport (baggage check, air ticket, weight check list) and assist in the verification of international air transport charges. IATA is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

Import Licence: A government permit that allows the holder (consignee) to import specified goods.

Marks: Marks on the packaging showing the goods used to identify the goods or information related to the owner.

Air Air Waybill (Master Air Waybill): This is an air waybill that includes a consignment of cargo that lists the consignor as the consignment.

Neutral Air Waybill: A standard air waybill that does not specify a carrier.

Fresh goods (Perishable Cargo): perishable goods within a specified period of time or under adverse temperature, humidity, or other environmental conditions.

Prepacked Cargo: Goods that have been packaged in the vehicle by the shipper prior to submission to the cargo operator.

Receiving Checklist List: A document issued by a freight station operator when it receives the shipper’s cargo.

Regulated Agent Regime: It is the system that the government conducts safety inspections for all air transport agents.

Shipment Release Form: A document issued by the carrier to the consignee for the withdrawal of goods from the operator of the terminal.

Shipper: The person or company shipped to the consignee as specified in the contract for the carriage of goods.

Shipper's Certificate for live animals/dangerous goods: Declaration by the shipper stating that the goods have been properly packed according to the latest IATA rules and all carrier rules and government regulations Packaging, accurate description, making it suitable for air transport.

Shipper's Letter of Instruction: A document that includes the shipper's or shipper's agent's instructions for preparing documents and delivering goods.

STA/STD (Schedule Time of Arrival / Schedule Time of Departure): Abbreviation of estimated arrival/departure time.

TACT (The Air Cargo Tariff): An acronym for "Air Freight Tariffs" published by the International Air Publishing House (IAP) in cooperation with the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Tariff: The price, charge, and/or condition of the carrier's transportation of goods. Freight schedules vary by country, weight of cargo, and/or carrier.

Unit Load Device: Any type of container or pallet used to transport goods.

Valuable Cargo: Goods whose declared value is the average gross weight per kilogram equals or exceeds $1,000, such as gold and diamonds.

Valuation Charge: The freight charge based on the value of the goods declared at the time of shipment.

Vulnerable Cargo (Vulnerable Cargo): Goods that have no stated value but obviously need careful handling, or goods that are particularly vulnerable to theft.