In international air freight, the ground handling fee (GHF) is the collective term for ground handling costs throughout the entire cargo process, from arrival/departure at the airport to loading/collection. It is collected by airport ground handling companies (such as the airport’s own ground handling department or third-party ground handling service providers). It primarily covers non-flight operational costs such as cargo handover, warehousing, loading and unloading, security checks, and information processing. The specific contents can be broken down by departure airport and destination airport scenarios. Some fees may vary slightly depending on airport regulations and cargo type (e.g., general cargo, dangerous goods, or oversized items).
- Ground Handling Fees at the Departure Airport: Ground Handling Before Cargo Departure
Ground handling at the departure airport revolves around ensuring the safe and compliant delivery of cargo to the airline’s cabin, and primarily includes six core fees:
- Cargo Receiving and Tallying Fees
Operational Details: Airport ground staff receive cargo from the freight forwarder/shipper, verify that cargo information (such as number of pieces, weight, volume, and shipping marks) matches the Air Waybill (AWB), check that the cargo packaging meets air transport standards (e.g., for damage and proper dangerous goods labeling (if dangerous goods), and record the cargo’s status).
Charging Principle: Typically, charges are based on “ticket” or “weight” (e.g., 100 yuan/ticket or 0.5 yuan/kg, whichever is higher). For large shipments (e.g., over 50 pieces) or if manual verification of each piece is required, an additional “tallying surcharge” may be added.
- Storage and Custody Fees
Operational Details: After cargo is received and before loading, it is temporarily stored in the airport cargo warehouse designated by ground handling. This includes general storage (for general cargo), constant temperature storage (for fresh produce and pharmaceuticals), and specialized storage for hazardous goods (for lithium batteries and chemicals).
Charging Principle:
General cargo: Most airports offer a “free storage period” (usually 24-48 hours). After this period, a fee is charged per day/weight (e.g., 0.3 yuan/kg/day).
Special cargo: Constant temperature storage and hazardous goods storage do not have a free period and are charged per hour/weight or per day/cubic meter (e.g., 2 yuan/kg/day for constant temperature storage, 3 yuan/kg/day for hazardous goods storage). An additional “storage space occupation fee” is required.
- Loading and Handling Fees
Operational Details: Cargo is moved from the warehouse to a freight truck, then transferred to the loading area on the airport apron. Finally, ground staff load and unload the cargo into the airline’s containerized load (ULD) container or pallet and secure it in the aircraft cabin to prevent movement during flight.
Charging Principle: Charges are based on “weight” or “number of pieces.” Standard cargo is usually included in the basic ground handling fee (e.g., 1 yuan per kilogram). Oversized or heavy cargo (e.g., a single piece weighing over 300 kilograms or longer than 3 meters) requires special equipment such as a forklift or crane, and an “oversized loading and unloading surcharge” (e.g., 500-2000 yuan per piece, calculated based on the length of time the equipment is in use) will be added.
- Cargo Security Inspection Fee
Details: According to international aviation security conventions (such as the ICAO Aviation Security Manual), all air cargo must pass airport security screening equipment (such as X-ray machines and explosives detectors) to confirm the presence of dangerous goods and prohibited items. If suspicious items are detected during security screening, manual unpacking and inspection are required (with the cargo owner/agent present).
Charging Principle: General cargo is typically charged by weight (e.g., 0.2 yuan/kg). Dangerous goods/sensitive cargo (such as electronics and powdered goods) require additional “specialized security inspections” (such as unpacking and ingredient testing), resulting in higher charges (e.g., 1 yuan/kg + 200 yuan/shipping for manual inspection).
- Waybill and Labeling Fee
Operation: Ground staff will print the “Airport Attachment” and “Consignor Attachment” of the Air Waybill (AWB) based on the information provided by the freight forwarder. They will also affix the “Airline Label” (including key information such as the waybill number, destination airport code, cargo weight, and dangerous goods label (if applicable)) to the cargo to ensure proper identification at the transit airport.
Charging Principle: Per-ticket (e.g., 50-100 RMB/ticket). If expedited processing is required (e.g., if the cargo needs labeling within 1 hour for a flight), an additional “expedited fee” (e.g., 200 RMB/ticket) may be charged.
- Container Load (ULD) Fee (if used)
Operation: If the cargo requires loading in an airline container (e.g., ULD container, pallet) (usually for large shipments or specially packaged goods), ground staff will provide the container and assist in loading and securing the cargo.
Charging Principle: Charges are based on the “unit container type” (e.g., 1,000 yuan per standard air container, 200 yuan per pallet). If the unit container is damaged during use (e.g., deformed due to overweight cargo), an additional “damage compensation fee” (calculated based on the actual repair/replacement cost) will be charged.
II. Destination Airport Ground Handling Fee: Ground Handling After Cargo Arrival
Ground handling at the destination revolves around unloading cargo from the aircraft and safely delivering it to the consignee. This core fee includes four categories, some of which may be paid directly by the consignee (or prepaid by the shipper before departure, depending on the trade terms):
- Cargo Unloading and Transfer Fees
Operation Details: After the flight lands, ground staff use loading and unloading equipment (e.g., conveyor belts, forklifts) to unload the cargo from the aircraft and transfer it to the “inbound cargo warehouse” at the destination airport. They then verify that the “actual quantity arrived” matches the waybill (to prevent loss or misplaced cargo).
Charging Principle: Charges are based on weight or number of pieces (e.g., 0.8 yuan/kg). Oversized/heavy cargo is subject to an additional “oversized unloading surcharge” (similar to the departure airport fee, e.g., 300-1500 yuan/piece).
- Arrival Warehousing and Storage Fees
Operation Details: After unloading, cargo is temporarily stored in the destination airport’s incoming warehouse, awaiting collection by the consignee/customs clearance agent after customs clearance. If customs clearance is delayed (e.g., due to incomplete documents or customs inspection), the cargo will require extended storage.
Charging Principle: Most airports offer a “free storage period” (usually 1-3 days, with significant variations across airports in different countries, such as 48 hours at US airports and 72 hours at European airports). After this period, a fee is charged based on “day/weight” (e.g., 0.8-2 yuan/kg/day). The unit price may increase with longer storage periods (e.g., if the period is exceeded by more than 7 days, the fee is 1.5 times the unit price).
- Cargo Inspection Assistance Fee (if customs inspection is involved)
Operational Details: If the destination customs requires cargo inspection (e.g., random inspection, suspected declaration discrepancies), ground staff will assist in transferring the cargo from the warehouse to the customs inspection area, assist with customs unpacking, verify cargo information, and, after inspection, return the cargo to the warehouse (or deliver it directly to the consignee).
Charging Principle: Per-trip (e.g., 500-1000 RMB/trip). If the inspection requires the use of equipment (e.g., a crane to move large cargo) or secondary loading and unloading, additional “equipment usage fees” and “secondary loading and unloading fees” will be charged.
- Cargo Delivery and Pickup Fees
Operation: After the consignee completes customs clearance, ground staff will verify the consignee’s identity (e.g., bill of lading, ID) and transport the cargo from the warehouse to the consignee’s designated transportation vehicle (e.g., truck). Some airports also offer “delivery to a designated area within the airport” (e.g., at the airport cargo terminal entrance).
Charging Principle: Per-ticket or “weight” (e.g., 80 RMB/ticket, or 0.3 RMB/kg). If the consignee requires ground staff assistance to “load the cargo onto their own vehicle” (e.g., manual handling), an additional “loading service fee” (e.g., 200 RMB/trip) may be charged.
- Special Notes: Ground handling fees will increase in these circumstances.
Dangerous Goods/Special Cargo Surcharge: For dangerous goods (such as lithium batteries, paint), perishables (such as seafood, flowers), or oversized or heavy cargo, ground handling fees will be 30%-100% higher than for standard cargo due to the need for specialized handling (such as dedicated warehousing, dedicated supervision, and specialized loading and unloading equipment).
Airport Peak Surcharge: During peak cargo seasons (such as the pre-Christmas period and e-commerce promotions) or busy airport hours (such as 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM), ground handling resources may be limited, and a “peak handling fee” (e.g., 10%-20% of the base fee) may be charged.
After-Hours Service Fee: If ground handling (such as emergency unloading or pickup) is required outside of airport operating hours (such as late at night, on weekends, or on holidays), an “overtime service fee” (usually 2-3 times the normal fee) will be charged.
In summary, ground handling fees are the core costs of the “non-flight” aspects of international air freight, covering the entire ground handling process from “entry” to “exit.” The specific fees are calculated based on airport regulations, cargo type, and operation time. Shippers can negotiate discounts with ground handling through freight forwarders (for example, long-term partnerships for bulk shipments may result in partial waivers of storage and loading and unloading fees).
(Note: All fees listed above are for reference only. Please refer to your actual invoice for details. Thank you!)
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