Air Transportation
Air freight is a critical mode of transport. It serves markets and supply chains that demand speed but this achieved at a cost. To meet the demand for growth, world air cargo traffic is forecasted to growing on average by 4.2 percent per year. Industries such as the automotive and retail industries utilize air freight to achieve Just In Time’ (JIT) logistics.
Table 3 identifies the strengths and weaknesses of air transportation.
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Speed | Expensive |
| Suitable for perishable goods | Inflexible relying on regular flight schedules |
| Increased level of security | Must be supported by other modes of transport to carry out transfers to and from airports |
| Reliable transit times and schedules | Environmental impact – carbon footprint |
| Less cargo handling |
Table 3: The Strengths and Weaknesses of Air Transportation
Sea Transportation
Sea freight accounts for around 90% of global trade. Ocean freight is a less expensive method of shipping goods, but the drawback is a longer transit time. Sea freight is used quite extensively for the movement of bulk commodities such as agricultural products (wheat, maize, soya, etc.), coal, iron ore or for wet bulk products such as crude oil and petroleum. Other goods are containerised for shipping by sea.
Table 4 identifies the strengths and weaknesses of sea transportation
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Cost-effective | Long transit times |
| Suitable for large volumes | Must be supported by other modes of transport particularly if collection point or delivery point is land-locked |
| Environmentally friendly | |
| Extensive coverage |
Table 4: The Strengths and Weaknesses of Sea Transportation