General Cargo

General cargo are items that do not fall into the Special Cargo categories and that do not require any extra precautions or special handling during air transport. This category forms the foundation of air cargo operations, representing the broad majority of standard shipments that can be processed through normal freight handling procedures. General Cargo covers the broad majority of standard shipments. Special Cargo is the umbrella term for any shipment that requires conditions, handling, or documentation beyond standard freight procedures. General cargo must still meet all standard aviation safety requirements and proper packaging standards for air transport.

Some examples of general cargo are dry goods, hardware, textiles, and other retail and consumer goods excluding mobile phones, laptops, and tablets. General cargo air freight examples include clothing shipments from manufacturing hubs to distribution centers, automotive spare parts, industrial components, and non-perishable food items shipped in standard packaging. A United Airlines Cargo shipment with AWB number 016-45892341 could transport automotive spare parts from Detroit to Frankfurt, where 016 is the AWB prefix that identifies United as the issuing carrier. Similarly, a Lufthansa Cargo shipment carrying AWB number 020-78543210 might move textile products from Mumbai to New York's JFK airport through standard general cargo handling procedures.

• GCR
• standard cargo
• non-special cargo

What items are specifically excluded from General Cargo classification in air transport?

Some examples of general cargo are dry goods, hardware, textiles, and other retail and consumer goods excluding mobile phones, laptops, and tablets. Examples of special cargo include dangerous goods, products that are sensitive to time and temperature, and perishable cargo. Mobile phones, laptops, and tablets require special handling due to lithium battery restrictions, while dangerous goods, live animals, perishables, and valuable cargo exceeding standard thresholds must be processed as special cargo categories.

Do General Cargo shipments still need to meet specific packaging requirements for air transport?

The contents of each shipment must be packaged properly in accordance with the normal limits of transportation. General Cargo is ordinary shipment items so it does not need to require special handling, but still must meet the specified requirements and safety aspects. All general cargo must comply with IATA packaging standards for air transport, including proper marking, labeling, and packaging sufficient to withstand normal air transport conditions, even though no special handling procedures are required.