Air Freight Glossary

A glossary of words and their definitions used in the air freight industry

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There are currently 33 names in this directory beginning with the letter C.
Carbon dioxide, solid (Dry ice) (ICE)
Dry ice - Dangerous goods

Cargo Accounts Settlement System (CASS)
System designed to simplify the billing and settling of accounts between airlines and freight forwarders

Cargo Aircraft Only (CAO)
Shipments containing dangerous goods that may only be shipped on a cargo aircraft

Cargo Attendant Accompanying Shipment (CAT)
Person accompanying high value cargo or AVI(H)

Cargo Charges Correction Advise (CCA)
Document used for the notification of changes to the transportation charges and/or the other charges and/or the method of payment

Cargo has not been secured yet for Passenger or All-Cargo Aircraft (NSC)
Shipment still needs to run through security, customs before the shipment can be declared "secured"

Cargo Secure for All-Cargo Aircraft only (SCO)
Cargo secured and only permitted on CAO

Cargo Secure for Passenger and All-Cargo Aircraft (SPX)
Cargo secured for transport

Carriage Paid To (CPT)
Risk transfers from the seller to the buyer as soon as the goods reach the nominated destination and the carrier takes charge of these

Carrier
An airline is a company that provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight

Cash on Delivery (COD)
System of paying for goods when they are delivered, is also referred to as collect on delivery since delivery may allow for cash, check, or electronic payment

Centimetre(s) (cm)
A metric unit of length

Central part of a circular object, Hub and spoke (HUB)
A major airport used as a ‘base’ for an airline from where they fly to other destinations within their network. Also usually a base for flight crew, cabin crew and maintenance

Central Reservation Office (CRO)
Computerized systems used to store and retrieve information and conduct transactions related to air travel, hotels, car rental, or other activities

Charges Collect (CC)
The total transportation charges which may include pickup and/or delivery charges which are entered on the AWB to be collected from the consignee are paid upon collecting

Charges Prepaid (PP)
The total transportation charges which may include pickup and/or delivery charges which are entered on the AWB to be collected from the consignee are paid upon shipping in advance

Company Mail (COM)
System of transporting mail by aircraft

Completely Knocked Down (CKD)
Meaning that a product/shipment is delivered in parts and assembled at the destination

Control Room Temperature (CRT)
"room temperature" or normal storage conditions, which means storage in a dry, clean, well ventilated area at room temperatures between 15° to 25°C

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
International agreement aiming to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species

Cool Goods (COL)
Goods depending on certain temperatures during storage and transport due to their sensitivity

Corrosive (RCM)
Shipment contains corrosive substances - Dangerous goods

Cross country (XC)
A flight between a point of departure and a point of arrival following a pre-planned route, using standard navigation procedures

Cryogenic liquids (Packing Instruction 202) (RCL)
Shipment contains liquefied gases at low temperaturs - Dangerous goods

Cubic centimetre(s) (cm³)
A metric unit corresponding to the volume

Cubic decimetre(s) (dm³)
Unit of volume

Cubic foot (feet) (cu. ft. Or cft)
Unit of volume, used in the United States and the United Kingdom

Cubic inch(es) (cu. In.)
Unit of volume, used in the United States

Cubic meter(s) (m³)
A metric unit corresponding to the volume

Currency (Cy.)
A medium of exchange for goods and services. In short, it's money, in the form of paper or coins, usually issued by a government and generally accepted at its face value as a method of payment

Currency Adjustment Factor (compensation factor for the various currencies) (C.A.F.)
Percentage that is applied to fees, in addition to the base exchange rate. It is calculated based on the average of the exchange rate over the prior three months

Customs value per gross kilogram (kg) (CVGK)
Total value of all items in the shipment determines how much import duty per kg must be paid

Customs value per gross pound (lb) (CVGP)
Total value of all items in the shipment determines how much import duty per lb must be paid