Why are airfreight charges sometimes based on volume and not weight?
It is an international air cargo convention to charge for weight or volume, whichever is greater, according to the following formula: length x height x width (m) = m3 multiplied by 167 This formula converts volume to weight and ensures that air carriers receive reasonable revenue for light items. A bag of feathers would take up a great deal of space in a cargo hold but because of their lightweight, the airline would earn little revenue from their carriage if charges were calculated on weight alone. While their large size would also prevent the airline from transporting more items. To give an example, a tea carton with dimensions of 41x51x61cm, weighing 5 kilos would be calculated as 0.41 x 0.51x 0.61m = 0.127 m3 multiplied by 167 = 21kg volumetric weight. This means that the above items would be charged for the actual weight if greater than 21 kg, while 21 kg remains the minimum charge. Please keep in mind that this is an International Shipping Standard. Even if your chosen shipping co
