The introduction of wide-body jet aircraft such as the Boeing 747, including dedicated freighter versions, gave airlines far greater cargo capacity and range than earlier propeller and narrow-body jet aircraft. Air freight became commercially practical for time-sensitive and high-value goods, including fresh produce, pharmaceuticals, electronics components, and seasonal consumer goods. Dedicated cargo carriers and integrated logistics firms expanded their fleets through the 1970s and 1980s to serve this growing market. Air cargo remained a small share of trade volume by weight but a disproportionately large share by value.
Relevance to Trade History
The growth of jet air cargo enabled a new category of fast, high-value global trade that complements ocean container shipping.
Read the full story in our article Air Freight and High-Speed Global Trade.
Source: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. See our Sources & Methodology page for how we select and verify references.