Shipping Cargo: Full Charter vs. Scheduled Flights

In today’s fast-paced global marketplace, choosing the right air freight solution can make or break your supply chain. Two primary options prevail in the industry: Full Charter and Scheduled Flights. Understanding their differences — and knowing which best aligns with your needs — ensures faster delivery, better cost control, and higher reliability.

1. What Is Full Charter?

A Full Charter (also called “air cargo charter”) means you lease an entire aircraft for your shipment. Rather than sharing space with other shippers, you control the departure time, routing, and capacity. Commonly operated with freighters, charter services offer maximum flexibility.

Key Benefits of Full Charter

• Route & Schedule Flexibility: Pick origin, destination, and departure times — even to secondary or regional airports.

• Dedicated Capacity: ideal for high-volume or oversized shipments.

• Custom Handling: Tailored temperature-controlled decks, special loading gear, and bespoke security protocols.

• Time-Critical Reliability: No waiting on seat availability — perfect for perishables, pharmaceuticals, or urgent e-commerce stock.

Drawbacks of Full Charter

• Higher Upfront Cost: Leasing an entire aircraft carries a premium compared to shared space.

• Minimum Volume Requirements: Best suited for shipments large enough to justify the dedicated lift.

2. What Are Scheduled Cargo Flights?

Scheduled Flights operate on fixed timetables and published routes, carrying both belly-hold cargo on passenger aircraft and space on scheduled freighters. You book a “seat” or “ULD” (Unit Load Device) rather than the whole airplane.

Key Benefits of Scheduled Flights

• Cost Efficiency: Shared aircraft space leads to lower rates per kilo.

• Hub-to-Hub Service on established routes between major airports.

• Ideal for Steady Volumes: Great for businesses with consistent, medium-sized shipments.

• Advance Bookings available through standard airline cargo portals.

Drawbacks of Scheduled Flights

• Limited Flexibility: Restricted to published routes and departure times.

• Space Constraints: Subject to seasonal peak demand and seat availability.

• Potential Delays: Competing passenger priorities can sometimes bump cargo.

• Limited Reach: Restricted to major hubs and published routes; no access to regional or secondary airports.

• Inflexible Timing: Fixed schedules mean you can’t expedite departures if plans change.

• Standard Handling Only: No specialized services—temperature control, hazmat protocols, or bespoke security aren’t guaranteed.

• Advance Booking Required: Last-minute shipments may miss the cut-off, delaying your supply chain.

3. Comparing Full Charter vs. Scheduled Flights

Criteria	Full Charter	Scheduled Flights
Cost	Higher fixed charter rate	Lower per-kg rate
Flexibility	Complete control of schedule/routes	Limited to airline schedules
Capacity	Entire aircraft (e.g., B738F, A321F)	Shared space with other shippers
Lead Time	On-demand departures	Advance booking on fixed schedules

4. When to Choose Each Option

Go Full Charter If…

• You need direct flights to non-hub or regional airports that scheduled services don’t serve.

• Your business demands faster turnaround and on-demand departures — no waiting for the next scheduled flight.

• You want to optimize ground logistics by flying directly to the airport closest to your warehouse or customer.

• Security of your shipment is critical — you gain exclusive use of the entire aircraft and tighter control over handling.

• Your cargo is time-sensitive or urgently needed — from e-commerce stock to perishables or critical medical supplies.

• You require special handling (e.g., temperature-controlled decks, hazmat protocols, oversized or heavy items).

• You move large volumes or irregularly sized freight that exceed standard ULD restrictions.

Opt for Scheduled Flights If…

• You ship small, consistent volumes (e.g., 1–2 ULDs) rather than bulk loads.

• Speed isn’t critical — you can plan around published departure times and lead times.

• Your cargo isn’t perishable or temperature-sensitive and can safely travel in a standard hold.

• Cost efficiency is your priority — shared space on scheduled services delivers lower per-kg rates.

• You operate on major hub routes with frequent departures and reliable capacity.

• You have flexible booking window — advance notice lets you secure space before cut-off.

Consider the trade-offs:

– In peak periods, passenger baggage and priority freight may take precedence.

– Limited flexibility — no direct flights to secondary airports or on-demand departures.

– Standard handling only — no specialized temperature control, hazmat protocols, or bespoke security.

Choose scheduled services when your shipments are routine, your volumes modest, and your timelines allow for standard delivery cycles.

5. Real-World Example: Stellavia’s Dual-Fleet Advantage

At Stellavia Airlines, we operate both B738F and A321F freighters. That dual-fleet approach lets us offer:

• Efficient Charters – Tailored lift for perishables or oversized freight, with priority boarding at key EU airports and major world hubs.

• Scheduled Services – Cost-competitive belly-hold and freighter space on regular routes across Europe and beyond.

• Temperature-Controlled Decks – Ensuring pharma, seafood, and fresh produce maintain ideal conditions at 30,000 feet.

6. Making the Right Choice

1. Assess Your Cargo Needs: Volume, value, perishability, and special handling.

2. Calculate Total Cost: Include ground logistics, customs clearance, and potential delay penalties.

3. Evaluate Timing Requirements: How critical is on-time delivery?

4. Consult an Expert: A hybrid carrier like Stellavia can structure a multimodal plan combining charter and scheduled services for optimal efficiency.

Conclusion:

Both full charter and scheduled flights have their place in modern logistics. By matching cargo characteristics with the right service type, shippers can achieve the perfect balance of speed, cost-efficiency, and reliability.

Ready to optimize your air freight strategy? Contact Stellavia Airlines at sales@stella-via.aero to discover a tailored air freight solution.