Book excerpt: Air cargo is a key element of the global supply chain. It allows outsourcing of manufacturing to other countries and links production in both multinational and smaller enterprises. It has also been the most important driver of certain export industries in countries such as South Africa, Kenya and Chile. As a component of the air transport industry, air cargo makes the crucial difference between profit and loss on many long-haul routes. For some network combination carriers it accounts for up to half of total tonne-kms flown, and as much as one quarter of total revenue. In addition, the integrated carriers such as DHL, FedEx and TNT have their own fleets of dedicated freighter aircraft, and cargo aircraft operators like Cargolux and Nippon Cargo have a specialist role in the industry. Featuring expert analysis and worked examples to enhance understanding, Moving Boxes by Air by Peter Morrell offers a comprehensive and up-to-date guide to the business and practices of air cargo, with a chapter dedicated to each key issue, such as: current trends, market characteristics, regulation, airport terminal operations, pricing and revenues, and environmental impacts.