
Alexis Logistics preparing it’s QMS
31 October 2021
Understanding ocean freight
31 October 2021The history of the Air freight industry is very important. In fact is a very dynamic industry with a huge technology impact and a constant evolution :
1910 – The first air shipment
The very first air freight shipment on a cargo-only plane took to the skies over a century ago in 1910, when a US department store decided to fly 200Ibs (91 Kg) of silk the 65 miles (105 Km) from Dayton to Columbus.
1911 – Airmail
Two further examples of the potential of air freight followed in 1911, with airmail demonstrations in both India and the UK. In the UK, a month-long airmail service ran as part of the Coronation celebrations for King George V, moving mail the 21-mile distance from London to Windsor.
1920s – Cargo and passenger transport combined
In 1919, the first scheduled flight from London to Paris carried one passenger, leather for a shoemaker and grouse for a restaurant – an interesting cargo combination!
1939 to 1945 – World War II
Enormous advances were made during the war years, as aeroplane technology was invested in and developed as a matter of urgent priority. Planes played an important role during World War II, as the quickest way to transport troops, weapons and supplies.
1945 – Air freight takes off
An important event in the history of air freight occurred in 1945 with the formation of the International Air Transport Association. All-cargo airlines started to emerge, although it was still common for planes to carry a combination of cargo and passengers. Planes now had the capacity to travel further and faster, but the full potential of this for global trade wasn’t realised until decades later.
1990s – The boom of the ‘express’ parcel
It wasn’t until the 1990s that the idea of planes with the primary purpose of transporting cargo really gathered pace. This was thanks to the growth of express parcel carriers (such as FedEx, DHL and UPS), and the rise of the internet, which made air freight a much more accessible and reliable prospect for importers and exporters.
Alexis Logistic is a major company in the history of the Air freight industry with a wide range of services and a qualified teams.