FAQ’s

FAMS offers a range of Airfreight services, these include:

• Customs Clearing
• Forwarding
• Express Air Service. Express air service means your cargo is hoping on a flight straight to its destination, which is distinctly different from standard airfreight because of special scheduling, handling, billing, pickup, and delivery.
• Standard Air Service. While on occasion, a standard air service may fly direct to destination, it usually includes one or two stops along the way, usually for the sake of deconsolidating and reconsolidating cargo.
• Deferred Air Service
• PODs
• Import and export consolidation services
• Customs brokerage
• Consular services and legalization of documents
• Compliance with letter of credit instructions
• Packing of goods
• Insurance of your goods

Depending on the size of the consignment transit times can vary from 24 hours for Mission Critical goods to 5 to 7 days for Economical costs.

For specialist and temperature controlled cargo please contact your FAMS Logistics Specialist.

Airline freight rates are always quoted on a “chargeable weight” basis.

For air shipments, the cost is calculated by multiplying the provided kg/lbs by the “chargeable weight”, which is calculated based on the weight or volume of goods. The chargeable weight of a shipment will be either the “actual gross mass” or the “volumetric weight”, whichever is the highest.

Prices (airfreight rates) are always quoted per kg/6 dm3. This can also be called the volume ratio 1 : 6 or 1 m3 = 167 kg. That means you either pay for the weight or the space necessary for the transport of your consignment.

At FAMS we can assist you with all types of Airfreight;

• Freight loaded on passenger airlines.
• Freight loaded on dedicated cargo planes.
• Huge payloads loaded in super cargo planes.

FAMS can assist with the airfreight for the following types of air cargo:

• Medicaments
• Medical Equipment
• Auto parts
• Mining Machinery & Equipment
• Mineral Samples
• IT Equipment (Software & Hardware)

We levy the following charges as imposed by airlines:

• Fuel Surcharge (FSC)
• Sensitive Cargo Contribution Surcharge or SSC
• What other ones do you want to add?
• AWB Fee (Airway Bill)
• CDC Fee (Customs Data Capturing)
• DG Surcharge (Dangerous Goods)
• Cargo Screening Fee
• Cargo Handling Fee
• Security Fee

The following taxes can apply depending on the type of cargo air freighted:

• Fuel tax
• Waybill tax
• Storage of shipment.
• Cargo Delivery (weight bracket based)
• Cargo Inspection ($60/shipment)
• Port Health
• VAT (Country dependant)
• Disbursement Fee (5% of the disbursed value – minimum is $20)

If you plan to ship your cargo via air freight, these are the most common air freight shipping terms and concepts to knwo!

• AWB – Air Waybill
• MAWB – Master Air Waybill
• HAWB – House Air Waybill
• ATA – Actual Time of Arrival
• ATD – Actual Time of Departure
• Bonded Warehouse – A warehouse authorized by customs service authorities for the storage of goods won which payment of duties is deferred until the goods enter the customs territory.
• Combi Aircraft – An aircraft configured to carry both passengers and cargo on the Main Deck.
• ULD – Unit Load Device (aircraft container)
• COC – Certificate Of Conformity
• COO – Certificate Of Origin

We work with a wide variety of local and international airlines, most notably with:

• KLM Royal Dutch
• Emirates Sky Cargo
• SAA
• Kenya Airways
• Qatar Airways
• Ethiopian Airlines

No there is not,  countries only ban specific items for Airfreight.

There are a wide variety of document required for airfreight. FAMS can and will assist you all of these documents:

• • Air Waybill (AWB):This is the document of title to the goods travelling by air and is therefore non-negotiable. It travels with the cargo and acts as evidence of delivery of the goods travelling on board the plane.
  • Commercial invoice:Document establishing the conditions of sale for the goods and their specifications. Serves as proof of sale.
  • Packing list:A list of the contents in a package, completing the information of the invoice, which must be issued by the sender.
  • Customs clearance authorization: Documents with which an importer or exporter authorizes a customs agent to submit one or several customs declarations on their behalf.
  • CD1 Form (Central Bank Exchange Control Document) – for Exports

If there are any specific documents you require assistance with please contact your nearest FAMS Logistics Specialist.

• Commercial Invoice
• Packing List (if any)
• CD1 Form (Central Bank Exchange Control Document) – for Exports
• Export / Import Permit (where applicable)
• Phytosanitary Certificate (for plant & plant products)
• Fumigation Certificate (for wooden packaging/products & pallets)

The main difference between Air cargo and Air freight is that cargo can go on passenger planes in the form of luggage, while air freight can’t. Airfreight is only transported in a cargo hold on dedicated cargo planes.

There are two types of air cargo – general and special cargo. FAMS can assist clients with both types of cargo, including:

• Temperature controlled goods.
• Hazardous material/dangerous goods.
• Heavy weight and over dimensional freight.
• Live animals.
• High Value/fragile Items.
• Human remains/organs/tissue & blood samples.

A dangerous good, DG, (also known as hazardous material or hazmat) is any substance or material that is capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce.

Dangerous goods are often indicated by diamond-shaped signage on the item, its container, or the building where it is stored. The colour of each diamond indicates its hazard, e.g., flammable is indicated with red, because fire and heat are generally of red color, and explosive is indicated with orange, because mixing red (flammable) with yellow (oxidizing agent) creates orange.

A Known consignor means a consignor who originates cargo or mail for its own account and whose cargo handling procedures and facilities meet common security rules and standards sufficient to allow carriage of that cargo or mail on any aircraft.

Yes, it can be arranged upon request.

Packing of goods for Air freight are the responsibility of the exporter/shipper/manufacturer.

You can either do this directly with the Airline or you can let FAMS do this for you.

We will submit cargo details to carrier, obtain a quote, submit shipper’s instruction & confirm booking with airline all on your behalf.

It is quite simple, use the Track & Trace option on the carrier website or alternatively use FAMS Track & Trace.

No it is not.

No it is not. All you need to do as the exporter is to deliver your consignment to a FAMS Warehouse or, depending on arrangement, FAMS can collect from exporter’s premises (for a fee).

Ordinarily, FAMS will submit documents for customs clearance (upon receipt of Commercial invoice, packing list, CD1 form & permits/COC/Phyto/COO (where applicable) from exporter)

Alternatively, exporter can bring already customs cleared documents to FAMS for freight forwarding.

No. Depending on routes & rates, we ship on the most competitive carrier.

While carriers carry cargo at owner’s risk, circumstances surrounding cargo damage might prompt redress to be directed at airline or ground cargo handler.

We strongly suggest insuring your goods during transit.

When packing your items for Air cargo, we strongly suggest you:

• Know restrictions based on your cargo dimensions
• Know air security regulations (inspections, cargo screening etc)
• Use sturdy or Double walled boxes
• Use a tape gun (and high-quality packing tape)
• Label cargo clearly and as required for your type of cargo

• Exports;
  • Ensure that export regulations/controls for that specific cargo are adhered to (obtain the necessary permits, phytos, COOs)
  • Cargo is export customs cleared

• Imports:
  • Ensure that, where applicable, cargo is conformity inspected & COC is at hand.
  • Import permits are available.

• Exports;
  • Exchange Control Document (CD1 Form)
  • Phytosanitary Certificate (where applicable)
  • Fumigation Certificate (where applicable)
  • Export Permit (where applicable)
  • Certificate of Origin (COO)
  • Customs cleared Export documents
• Imports;
  • Certificate of Conformity (where applicable)
  • Import Permit (where applicable)
  • Certificate of Origin (COO)
  • Import documents (Invoice/Packing List/Bill of Lading)
  • Active BP Number

As in all modes of transport, yes.

Airfreight cargo weight or size must conform to the aircraft ULD/AKE containers & cargo hold.

Generally speaking from 00hrs – 17.00hrs.

Yes, we do.

Yes, shipments travel as booked, barring unforeseen circumstances (such as the covid shutdown).