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GLOBAL AIR FREIGHT & LOGISTICS

Commercial Air Cargo, Freighters & ULD Containers

While commercial aviation carries less than 1% of global trade by weight, it transports over 35% of international trade by monetary value ($8+ trillion annually), including semiconductor wafer steppers, biopharmaceuticals, jet engines, and overnight express parcels. Explore main-deck widebody freighter specs, standardized Unit Load Device (ULD) containers, and all 169 cargo and express airlines in our registry.

35%+ Share of World Trade by Value Flown by Air
137.7 t Boeing 747-8F Nose-Loader Max Payload
169 Cargo & Express Airlines in Registry
87 Active Operating Freight Carriers

1. Dedicated Main-Deck Commercial Freighters

Roughly half of all air cargo rides in the lower belly holds of passenger widebodies; the other half requires dedicated main-deck freighters capable of carrying hazardous lithium batteries, outsized industrial machinery, and high-density pallet stacks.

Freighter Model Max Payload (t) Range at Max Payload Main-Deck Volume Loading Door Architecture Flagship Operators Engineering Highlight
Boeing 747-8F 137.7 t 4,120 NM 692 m³ Hinged upward-swinging Nose Cargo Door + Main-Deck Side Cargo Door Cargolux , Atlas Air , Cathay Pacific , Korean Air , Nippon Cargo Airlines The raised upper-deck cockpit allows the nose cone to swing open above the flight deck, enabling straight-in loading of 40-foot oil-field drill pipes, aerospace satellites, and outsized industrial machinery.
Boeing 777F 102.0 t 4,970 NM 518 m³ Aft Main-Deck Side Cargo Door (146 in x 120 in) Federal Express , Qatar Airways , Lufthansa , China Southern Airlines , Ethiopian Airlines Built on the ultra-long-range 777-200LR airframe with GE90-110B1L engines, the 777F is the workhorse long-haul twinjet freighter capable of flying non-stop transpacific sectors with over 100 tonnes of cargo.
Airbus A350F 111.0 t 4,700 NM 536 m³ Industry-largest Main-Deck Side Cargo Door (175 in wide opening) Air France , Singapore Airlines , Cathay Pacific , Etihad Airways , Martinair First clean-sheet composite widebody freighter designed specifically to meet ICAO 2028 CO2 emissions standards, with an extra-wide composite cargo door engineered to swallow complete Rolls-Royce Trent aircraft engines.
Boeing 767-300F / BCF 52.7 t 3,255 NM 334 m³ Forward Main-Deck Side Cargo Door United Parcel Service , Federal Express , DHL Air The backbone of overnight e-commerce express sorting hubs (Memphis, Louisville, Leipzig), offering optimal cube-out volume for medium-haul regional express parcels.
Airbus A330-300P2F (Passenger-to-Freighter) 62.0 t 3,650 NM 428 m³ Retrofitted Forward Main-Deck Cargo Door + reinforced floor beams DHL Air , Air China Cargo Converted from retired passenger airliners by plugging windows, stripping cabin interiors, installing a 9G rigid barrier wall behind the cockpit, and maximizing volumetric space for lightweight e-commerce packages.

2. Standardized Unit Load Device (ULD) Containers & Pallets

Intermodal aluminum containers and ball-mat pallets engineered to lock into aircraft floor roller-tray restraint systems within minutes during turnaround.

IATA ULD Code Common Designation Structure Type Base & Height Dimensions Internal Volume Max Gross Weight Compatible Aircraft Cross-Sections
AKE (LD3) Half-Width Lower Deck Container Contoured Container 61.5 x 60.4 x 64.0 in 4.5 m³ 1,588 kg B777, B787, B747, A330, A350, A380 (Lower Belly Hold)
AKH (LD3-45) Narrowbody Contoured Belly Container Contoured Container 61.5 x 60.4 x 45.0 in 3.6 m³ 1,134 kg Airbus A320 Family (A320 / A321 / A321XLR Lower Hold)
PMC (P6P) 96 x 125 Inch Universal Cargo Pallet Structural Pallet 96.0 x 125.0 in base 11.5 m³ 6,804 kg All Widebody Lower Holds & Main Freighter Decks (B747F, B777F, A350F)
AMA (M1) Main-Deck High-Cube Freighter Container Contoured Container 96.0 x 125.0 x 96.0 in 17.6 m³ 6,804 kg B747F, B777F, MD-11F, A350F Main Cargo Deck Only
RKN (LD3 Reefer) Active Temperature-Controlled Pharma Container Contoured Container 61.5 x 60.4 x 64.0 in 3 m³ 1,588 kg All Widebodies (Vaccines, biologics, and semiconductor lithography modules)

3. Cargo, Freight & Express Airlines in Database (169 Carriers)

Active and historical all-cargo, heavy-lift charter, and express integrator airlines from our primary database. Click any column header to sort.

Airline Name IATA ICAO Radio Callsign Country Status Observed Fleet
Federal Express FX FDX FEDEX United States ACTIVE 483
United Parcel Service 5X UPS UPS United States ACTIVE 268
AirAsia AK AXM ASIAN EXPRESS Malaysia ACTIVE 79
SunExpress XQ SXS SUNEXPRESS Turkey ACTIVE 64
Kalitta Air K4 CKS CONNIE United States ACTIVE 49
DHL Air D0 DHK WORLD EXPRESS United Kingdom ACTIVE 44
Nas Air XY KNE NAS EXPRESS Saudi Arabia ACTIVE 38
Cargojet Airways W8 CJT CARGOJET Canada ACTIVE 34
China Express Airlines G5 HXA CHINA EXPRESS China ACTIVE 32
Iberia Express I2 IBS - Spain ACTIVE 26
Air India Express IX AXB EXPRESS INDIA India ACTIVE 22
Lufthansa Cargo LH GEC LUFTHANSA CARGO Germany ACTIVE 22
South African Express - EXY EXPRESSWAYS South Africa ACTIVE 22
Hong Kong Express Airways UO HKE HONGKONG SHUTTLE Hong Kong SAR of China ACTIVE 20
Omni Air International OY OAE OMNI-EXPRESS United States ACTIVE 15
Cargolux CV CLX CARGOLUX Luxembourg ACTIVE 13
China Cargo Airlines CK CKK CARGO KING China ACTIVE 12
EgyptAir Express - MSE EGYPTAIR EXPRESS Egypt ACTIVE 12
Nippon Cargo Airlines KZ NCA NIPPON CARGO Japan ACTIVE 12
Rwandair Express WB RWD RWANDAIR Rwanda ACTIVE 12
Amerijet International M6 AJT AMERIJET United States ACTIVE 11
Cargoair - CGF - Unknown ACTIVE 11
Aviaexpress NL AEH Avex Hungary ACTIVE 9
National Air Cargo N8 NCR - United States ACTIVE 9
Singapore Airlines Cargo SQ SQC SINGCARGO Singapore ACTIVE 9
Bluebird Cargo BF BBD BLUE CARGO Iceland ACTIVE 8
Morningstar Air Express - MAL MORNINGSTAR Canada ACTIVE 8
Polar Air Cargo PO PAC POLAR United States ACTIVE 7
Egyptair Cargo - MSX EGYPTAIR CARGO Egypt ACTIVE 6
Northern Air Cargo NC NAC YUKON United States ACTIVE 6
Qatar Air Cargo - QAC QATAR CARGO Qatar ACTIVE 6
Sky Express G3 SEH AIR CRETE Greece ACTIVE 6
AeroSucre A4 KRE AEROSUCRE Colombia ACTIVE 5
ATRAN Cargo Airlines V8 VAS ATRAN Russian Federation ACTIVE 5
Centurion Air Cargo WE CWC CHALLENGE CARGO United States ACTIVE 5
Kuzu Airlines Cargo GO KZU KUZU CARGO Turkey ACTIVE 5
CAL Cargo Air Lines 5C ICL CAL Israel ACTIVE 4
Carga Express Internacional EE EST CARGAINTER Mexico ACTIVE 4
LAN Cargo UC LCO LAN CARGO Chile ACTIVE 4
Regional Express ZL RXA REX Australia ACTIVE 4
Sky Express XW SXR SKYSTORM Russia ACTIVE 4
Safair FA SFR CARGO South Africa ACTIVE 3
Yangtze River Express Y8 YZR YANGTZE RIVER China ACTIVE 3
African Express Airways - AXK EXPRESS JET Kenya ACTIVE 2
Buffalo Express Airlines TF BRX BUFF EXPRESS United States ACTIVE 2
CargoLogic Germany - GCL - Unknown ACTIVE 2
Kalitta Charters K9 KFS KALITTA United States ACTIVE 2
Korea Express Air - KEA - South Korea ACTIVE 2
Mali Air Express XP VXP AVION EXPRESS Mali ACTIVE 2
Martinair MP MPH MARTINAIR Netherlands ACTIVE 2
National Jet Express WO JTE JETEX Australia ACTIVE 2
Rhoades Aviation - RDS RHOADES EXPRESS United States ACTIVE 2
ACE Belgium Freighters X7 FRH - Unknown ACTIVE 1
ACT Havayollari 9T RUN CARGO TURK Turkey ACTIVE 1
Aerologic - LDL - Russia ACTIVE 1
Air China Cargo CA CAO AIRCHINA FREIGHT China ACTIVE 1
AirBridge Cargo RU ABW AIRBRIDGE CARGO Russia ACTIVE 1
AsiaCargo Express 3G CXM - Unknown ACTIVE 1
Astral Aviation 8V ACP ASTRAL CARGO Kenya ACTIVE 1
Cargo Ivoire - CRV CARGOIV Ivory Coast ACTIVE 1
Cargolux Italia C8 ICV - Unknown ACTIVE 1
Delta Express International - DLI DELTA EXPRESS Ukraine ACTIVE 1
Dutch Antilles Express - DNL DUTCH ANTILLES Netherlands Antilles ACTIVE 1
Eastern Air Express - HWA - Unknown ACTIVE 1
European Air Express 2D EAL STAR WING Germany ACTIVE 1
Sky Lease Cargo GG KYE - Unknown ACTIVE 1
Solar Cargo - OLC SOLARCARGO Venezuela ACTIVE 1
Star Air Cargo - BRH - Unknown ACTIVE 1
SunExpress Germany XG SXD - Unknown ACTIVE 1
Tasman Cargo Airlines HJ TMN - Unknown ACTIVE 1
Volga Aviaexpress G6 WLG GOUMRAK Russia ACTIVE 1
224th Flight Unit - TTF CARGO UNIT Russia DEFUNCT -
7Air Cargo - TXG - Unknown ACTIVE -
ABSA - Aerolinhas Brasileiras M3 TUS ABSA Cargo Brazil ACTIVE -
ACA-Ancargo Air Sociedade de Transporte de Carga Lda - NCL ANCARGO AIR Angola DEFUNCT -
Addis Air Cargo Services - DSC ADDIS CARGO Ethiopia DEFUNCT -
Aero Express - XPN - Unknown ACTIVE -
Aero Express Intercontinental - XSS INTER EXPRESS Mexico DEFUNCT -
Aero Freight - FGT FREIAERO Mexico DEFUNCT -
Aero Jet Express - AJE JET EXPRESS Mexico DEFUNCT -
Aero Services Executive E8 BES BIRD EXPRESS France DEFUNCT -
Aeroflot-Cargo - RCF AEROFLOT-CARGO Russia DEFUNCT -
Aerofreight Airlines - FRT - Russia DEFUNCT -
Aerogem Cargo - GCK AEROGEM Ghana DEFUNCT -
Aerolineas Regionales - RCQ REGIONAL CARGO Mexico DEFUNCT -
Aeromarket Express - ARM AMEX Spain DEFUNCT -
Aeromas - MSM AEROMAS EXPRESS Uruguay DEFUNCT -
Aeromexpress QO MPX AEROMEXPRESS Mexico DEFUNCT -
Aeronem Air Cargo - RNM AEROMNEM Ecuador DEFUNCT -
Aeropostal Cargo de Mexico - PCG POSTAL CARGO Mexico DEFUNCT -
Aerovista Gulf Express - VGF VISTA GULF United Arab Emirates DEFUNCT -
Afric'air Express - AAX AFREX Ivory Coast DEFUNCT -
Africa Freight Services - AFZ AFREIGHT Zambia DEFUNCT -
African Cargo Services - ACB - Unknown ACTIVE -
African International Airways - AIN FLY CARGO Swaziland DEFUNCT -
Afrique CArgo Service Senegal - NFS - Senegal DEFUNCT -
Aguilar Connect 3X GUI Moonexpress Chile DEFUNCT -
Air Alliance Express - AYY - Unknown ACTIVE -
Air Atonabee - OUL CITY EXPRESS Canada DEFUNCT -
Air Cargo America - MVM PEGASUS United States DEFUNCT -
Air Cargo Belize - CGB CARGO BELIZE Belize DEFUNCT -
Air Cargo Carriers 2Q SNC NIGHT CARGO United States ACTIVE -
Air Cargo Center - GRI - Sao Tome and Principe DEFUNCT -
Air Cargo Express - TDG TURBO DOG United States DEFUNCT -
Air Cargo Express International - PFT PROFREIGHT United States DEFUNCT -
Air Cargo Masters - RNR RUNNER United States DEFUNCT -
Air Cargo Plus - ACH - Unknown ACTIVE -
Air Cargo Transportation System - ACU AFRISPIRIT Kenya DEFUNCT -
Air Express - AXD AIR SUDEX Sudan DEFUNCT -
Air Express - AEJ KHAKI EXPRESS Tanzania DEFUNCT -
Air Express - AEQ LUNA Sweden DEFUNCT -
Air Freight NZ OG AFN - Unknown ACTIVE -
Air Guinee Express 2U GIP FUTURE EXPRESS Guinea ACTIVE -
Air Jamaica Express - JMX JAMAICA EXPRESS Jamaica DEFUNCT -
Air Monarch Cargo - MOC MONARCH CARGO Mexico DEFUNCT -
Air Niagara Express - DBD AIR NIAGARA Canada DEFUNCT -
Air Pack Express - PCK AIRPACK EXPRESS Spain DEFUNCT -
Air Taxi & Cargo - WAM TAXI CARGO Sudan DEFUNCT -
Air Tomisko - TOH TOMISKO CARGO Serbia DEFUNCT -
Airfreight Express - AFX - United Kingdom DEFUNCT -

Key Facts: Belly Cargo vs Main-Deck Freighters

  • On many long-haul passenger routes (such as Frankfurt to Shanghai or London to New York), 15 to 25 tonnes of lower-deck belly cargo can pay for the entire fuel burn of the flight before a single passenger ticket is counted.
  • Cargo aircraft typically "cube out" (fill 100% of their volumetric space with lightweight e-commerce parcels) long before they "weigh out" (reach Maximum Zero Fuel Weight), unless hauling dense commodities like machinery, bullion, or fresh seafood.
  • The Boeing 747-8F remains the only western commercial jetliner with a factory nose-loading door, because the 747 flight deck sits on an upper deck above the main cargo floor whereas twinjets (777F, A350F) house the cockpit directly in the nose.