The increase in cargo fees reflects a broader trend in the logistics industry, with carriers seeking to adapt to rising operational costs. Proactive planning and informed decision-making will be crucial to navigate the upcoming changes.
Air Canada Cargo has announced significant cargo fee adjustments that are set to take effect on January 20, 2025. These changes address rising global costs and inflationary pressures that have impacted the logistics landscape.
The new cargo fee adjustments are designed to ensure service quality and balance operational expenses. They will directly impact businesses that rely on Air Canada Cargo for shipping goods.
Key changes to ground handling charges
The revised cargo fee adjustments include the following:
Cargo storage charges
- Regular cargo: Minimum $75 per shipment; $20 per day; $0.30 per kilogram
- Special handling cargo: Minimum $85 per shipment; $40 per day; $0.50 per kilogram
Import termination charges
- Shipments removed in bond: $120 per shipment
- Customs clearance preparation: $120 per shipment
Dangerous goods charges
- Restricted dangerous goods: $80 per shipment
- Radioactive materials: $35 per air waybill
- Dry ice shipments: $35 per air waybill
- Lithium battery checks (ion and metal): $40 per check
Miscellaneous export charges
- Assembly of two or more parts of shipment from one or more shippers: $20 per part
- Shipping articles of extraordinary value/valuable cargo: $40 per shipment
- Air waybill preparation: $45
These cargo fee adjustments are intended to align service offerings with rising operational costs while maintaining quality standards for cargo handling.
For a complete list of the updated rates, please visit the Air Canada Cargo Charges and Fees web page.
How Canadian importers can prepare
To adapt to these cargo fee adjustments, Canadian importers should consider the following:
- Adjust supply chain budgets: Reevaluate logistics budgets to accommodate the increased charges for storage, handling, and special cargo.
- Consolidate shipments: Combine smaller shipments into fewer, larger consignments to reduce the frequency of charges.
- Partner with customs brokers: Work with customs brokers to identify cost-saving opportunities and navigate regulatory changes.
- Explore alternative solutions: Investigate alternative carriers, routes, or multimodal shipping options to diversify logistics strategies.
Please reach out to one of our trade professionals to discuss how to best mitigate the impact of the cargo fee adjustments.