Air

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Air transportation is being considered by increasing numbers of shippers for regular service, even though air freight rates exceed those of trucking by more than two times and those of rail by more than 16 times. The appeal for air transportation is its unmatched origin to destination speed, especially over long distances.

Air service dependability and availability can be rated as good under normal operating conditions. Delivery time variability is low in absolute magnitude, even though air service is quite sensitive to mechanical breakdown, whether conditions and traffic congestions. Variability when compare with average delivery times, can rank air as one of the least reliable modes.

The capability of air has been greatly constrained by the physical dimensions of the cargo space in the aircraft and the aircraft's lifting capacity. This is becoming less of a constraint, however, as larger aircraft are put into service. For example, jumbo airplanes such as Boeing 747 and Lockheed 500 handle cargo of 125 to 150 tons. Door-to-door ton-mile costs are expected to drop to about one-half of the current cost levels through the benefits of new technology, deregulation and productivity improvement programs This would make air a serious competitor with more premium forms of surface transport services.

Air transportation service exists in common, contract and private legal forms. Direct air service is offered in seven types, [1] regular domestic trunk line carriers; [2] all cargo carriers; [3] local service airlines; [4] supplemental carriers; [5] air taxis; [6] commuter airlines and [7] international carriers.

About a dozen airlines operate currently over the most heavily travelled routes. These airlines offer cargo carrying service in addition to their regularly scheduled passenger operations. All cargo carriers are common carriers of freight only. Service is concentrated at night and rates average 30 percent less than those for domestic trunk line carriers.

Local service airlines provide a connecting service with domestic truck line carriers for less populated centres. They provided both cargo and passenger services. Supplemental [charter] carriers operate much as do trunk line carriers, except that they do not have regular schedules. Commuter airlines are like local service carriers that fill in routes abandoned by trunk line carriers since deregulation.

In general, smaller aircraft are operated than those of trunk line carriers. Air taxis are small aircraft, namely helicopters and small fixing-wing aircraft, offering shuttle service for passengers and cargo between downtown areas and airports. They often have only irregular service. International carriers transport freight and passengers beyond their domestic regions.

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