Skyteam Cargo tracking

What is Skyteam Cargo?

SkyTeam Cargo is the world's only dedicated global airline cargo alliance, operating as the freight division of the SkyTeam passenger airline alliance. Unlike conventional shipping companies, SkyTeam Cargo does not own aircraft, employ cargo handlers, or operate warehouse infrastructure directly. It functions as a coordinating body that harmonizes the freight operations of several major international airlines under a unified brand common product standards, and a shared IT platform called SkyLink. Through this structure, shippers and freight forwarders gain access to a single global air cargo product backed by the combined networks of carriers operating across North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and the Middle East.

SkyTeam Cargo was formally established on September 28, 2000, in Washington, D.C., just six days after the founding of the SkyTeam passenger alliance. The four founding members were Aeroméxico Cargo, Air France Cargo, Delta Air Logistics, and Korean Air Cargo. Czech Airlines Cargo joined in April 2001 and Alitalia Cargo followed in August of that year, while the first standardized joint product frameworks were introduced across member airlines. A significant expansion came in September 2004 when KLM Cargo and Northwest Airlines Cargo joined, creating a transatlantic freight backbone centered on the combined Air France-KLM Cargo operation, at that point one of the largest freight entities in Europe.

Growth continued through the following decade. China Southern Cargo joined in November 2010, extending reach into mainland China, and Aerolíneas Argentinas Cargo joined in November 2013, adding South American capacity. Saudia Cargo became a member on April 15, 2019, filling a gap in Middle Eastern coverage. The COVID-19 pandemic caused serious disruption when passenger aircraft groundings eliminated an estimated 60% of belly cargo capacity industry-wide, pushing member airlines to accelerate dedicated freighter operations. Aeroflot Cargo was suspended on April 27, 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Czech Airlines Cargo departed in October 2024, and ITA Airways Cargo exited in February 2025. As of early 2026, the alliance counts seven active members.

• Founded: September 28, 2000, in Washington, D.C., alongside the SkyTeam passenger alliance
• Headquarters: Amstelveen, Netherlands, located on KLM premises
• Legal entity: SkyTeam Airline Alliance Management Coöperatie U.A.
• Alliance type: Global airline cargo alliance functioning as a coordinating body, not an operating carrier
• Active members (early 2026): Seven carriers: Aerolíneas Argentinas Cargo, Aeroméxico Cargo, Air France-KLM Cargo, China Cargo Airlines, Delta Cargo, Korean Air Cargo, and Saudia Cargo
• Global cargo share: Approximately 18.3% of global air cargo volume across combined member airline operations
• Network reach: More than 850 destinations in over 150 countries through combined member networks
• IT platform: SkyLink, a centralized system integrating tracking and operational data across all member airlines
• Chairperson, Cargo Executive Board: Peter Penseel, appointed October 2, 2024, who also serves as President of Delta Cargo

SkyTeam Cargo occupies a distinctive position in the air freight industry. Since the dissolution of the WOW Alliance in 2010, it has remained the sole dedicated global cargo alliance in existence. Air cargo as a category accounts for approximately 35% of world trade value while representing only 1% of trade by volume, reflecting the high-value, time-sensitive character of the goods transported by air. The alliance markets its products primarily to freight forwarders and commercial shippers who need global network access through a single point of contact, rather than managing individual relationships with multiple airlines for different regions or corridors.

Which countries does Skyteam Cargo deliver to?

The combined member network of SkyTeam Cargo reaches more than 850 destinations across over 150 countries, providing one of the broadest air cargo networks available under a single product framework. The alliance maintains 15 origin hubs and 60 shared warehouses distributed across multiple continents, with a collective fleet exceeding 2,500 aircraft including more than 45 dedicated freighters. Coverage spans all major commercial freight corridors, including transpacific, transatlantic, Asia-Europe, and South America routes, making the alliance relevant to shippers whose supply chains cross multiple regions simultaneously.

In North America, the primary hub is Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, operated by Delta Cargo, with additional facilities at Boston Logan, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Washington Dulles, and Toronto Pearson in Canada. Europe is served through the Air France-KLM Cargo dual-hub model at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, with warehouse facilities also present at Milan Malpensa, Rome Fiumicino, and Barcelona El Prat. Asia-Pacific coverage is anchored by China Cargo Airlines at Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Korean Air Cargo at Seoul Incheon International Airport, with further facilities at Narita in Japan, Delhi IGI Airport in India, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, Jakarta in Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, and Taoyuan in Taiwan.

• North America: United States (Atlanta, Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Washington Dulles), Canada (Toronto), Mexico (Mexico City via Aeroméxico Cargo)
• South America: Argentina (Buenos Aires Ezeiza via Aerolíneas Argentinas Cargo), Brazil (Guarulhos-São Paulo), Chile (Santiago)
• Europe: France (Paris Charles de Gaulle), Netherlands (Amsterdam Schiphol), Italy (Milan Malpensa, Rome Fiumicino), Spain (Barcelona El Prat), and other European destinations served through interline arrangements
• Asia-Pacific: China (Shanghai Pudong via China Cargo Airlines), South Korea (Seoul Incheon via Korean Air Cargo), Japan (Narita), India (Delhi IGI), Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City), Indonesia (Jakarta), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), Taiwan (Taoyuan)
• Middle East: Saudi Arabia (Jeddah and Riyadh via Saudia Cargo), Kuwait, Israel (Ben Gurion Airport)
• Africa: Kenya (Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport)

Freight booked through SkyTeam Cargo may be carried by different member airlines on successive legs of a single routing, with the SkyLink platform maintaining tracking continuity across airline boundaries. The suspension of Aeroflot Cargo in April 2022 and the subsequent closure of Russian airspace to Western carriers eliminated a major Europe-Asia corridor, forcing longer rerouting over southern flight paths with fuel cost increases estimated at 20 to 30% on affected routes. This illustrates how geopolitical factors can materially affect both routing options and transit times within the alliance network, independent of the alliance's own operational decisions.

What are the Skyteam Cargo services and delivery times?

SkyTeam Cargo markets four standardized product lines across all member airlines, establishing consistent service definitions regardless of which carrier physically transports the freight. A shipper booking under the SkyTeam Cargo framework can expect the same product specifications and handling standards whether the cargo moves on Delta Cargo, Korean Air Cargo, Air France-KLM Cargo, or another member. All products are booked through the relevant member airline or a licensed freight forwarder, not directly through the alliance management office.

The Express product provides expedited, time-sensitive airport-to-airport service with priority delivery after aircraft arrival, available to nearly 800 destinations in 149 countries, with tracking included. An Express Heavy variant handles higher-weight shipments under the same priority conditions. The General product is the standard, cost-efficient option for routine freight where delivery timing is flexible, available on a worldwide basis. Actual transit times depend on route, flight frequency, and the specific member airline operating the service. On high-frequency Express routes, freight can arrive within one to two days. On longer or less-served routes using the General product, total transit time can extend to up to 20 days.

• Express: Expedited airport-to-airport service to nearly 800 destinations in 149 countries, with priority delivery after aircraft arrival and tracking included
• Express Heavy: Variant of the Express product for large-weight shipments requiring the same priority delivery timeline
• General: Cost-efficient standard airport-to-airport freight for routine shipments with flexible timing requirements
• Specialized - Perishables: Temperature-controlled handling for fresh food products and other temperature-sensitive goods
• Specialized - Pharmaceuticals: Pharma-grade temperature management meeting applicable regulatory standards for medicinal products
• Specialized - Live Animals: Transport conducted under conditions meeting IATA Live Animals Regulations for animal safety and welfare
• Specialized - Valuable Shipments: Enhanced security protocols for high-value goods throughout the transit chain
• Specialized - Dangerous Goods: Hazardous materials transport in compliance with IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations
• Specialized - Automotive Parts: Dedicated handling procedures for components destined for the automotive industry
• Customized: Bespoke freight solutions for shippers with unusual requirements, including charter arrangements covering full aircraft or individual cargo compartments

SkyTeam Cargo has actively supported the e-Freight initiative, an industry program that replaces paper-based cargo documentation with electronic messages at stages of the supply chain where national customs authorities have adopted compatible electronic systems. The program targets approximately two-thirds of the physical paperwork involved in a standard air cargo shipment, with estimated industry-wide savings of up to $4.9 billion per year. It also eliminates more than 7,800 tons of paper annually and reduces aircraft operating weight, with a corresponding reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 output per flight.

What are the Skyteam Cargo rates and maximum dimensions accepted?

SkyTeam Cargo does not publish public rate cards. The alliance acts as a product and brand framework, and pricing is negotiated directly between freight forwarders or commercial shippers and the individual member airlines responsible for carrying the freight. Rates in air cargo are calculated on the basis of chargeable weight, defined as the greater of the actual gross weight or the volumetric weight of the shipment. Volumetric weight is calculated by dividing the total volume in cubic centimeters by 6,000, a divisor standard across the air freight industry.

Beyond the base freight rate, shippers typically pay a fuel surcharge that varies according to current fuel prices and is updated periodically by each member airline. Security surcharges and airport handling fees may also apply depending on the route and the nature of the goods being shipped. Shipments transported under the Specialized product category, such as pharmaceuticals, live animals, or dangerous goods, carry additional handling fees reflecting the infrastructure and compliance processes specific to those cargo types. Freight forwarders and direct shippers are advised to contact the relevant member airline for current rates on specific origin-destination pairs.

• Rate structure: Negotiated commercially between the shipper or freight forwarder and the individual member airline operating the route, not published publicly
• Chargeable weight: The greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight, with volumetric weight calculated as volume in cm³ divided by 6,000
• Fuel surcharge: Applied by each member airline separately, varying with current fuel prices and updated on a periodic schedule
• Specialized handling fees: Additional charges apply for pharmaceuticals, live animals, dangerous goods, and other regulated or sensitive cargo categories
• Weight and dimension limits: Determined by the member airline operating the specific route, based on aircraft type and available hold capacity
• Charter pricing: Negotiated individually for full aircraft or compartment charters under the Customized product line

Maximum shipment dimensions and weight limits per piece or per booking are not standardized at the alliance level. They are set by each member airline according to the aircraft types deployed on a given route and the ground handling equipment available at the relevant airports. Shippers with oversized or unusually heavy freight should contact the operating member airline or their freight forwarder before booking to confirm that the specific dimensions can be accommodated on the intended routing and aircraft type.

What are the Skyteam Cargo delivery options?

SkyTeam Cargo operates exclusively as an airport-to-airport freight service. Freight is tendered at origin cargo facilities and collected at destination cargo facilities by the consignee or their appointed agent, typically a customs broker or licensed freight forwarder. The alliance does not provide home delivery, last-mile parcel distribution, pickup lockers, or any consumer-facing delivery options. There are no time slot selection tools, parcel redirection services, or instructions for leaving goods with third parties, as SkyTeam Cargo's customer base consists of freight forwarders, logistics operators, and commercial shippers rather than private consumers.

• Service model: Airport-to-airport freight only, with no door-to-door or last-mile delivery offered
• Origin handling: Freight tendered at the cargo facility of the relevant member airline at the origin airport
• Destination collection: Cargo collected by the consignee or their appointed customs broker or freight forwarder at the destination cargo terminal
• Shared warehouses: 60 shared warehouse locations across the network allow freight to be deposited at a single facility for routing across multiple member airline networks
• Charter options: Full aircraft or compartment charters available under the Customized product for large-volume or specialized shipments

The 60 shared warehouse facilities are a distinctive element of the SkyTeam Cargo model. A shipper depositing freight at one of these locations does not need to interact separately with individual airline cargo offices, even if the shipment will transit two or more member airlines before reaching its final destination airport. This consolidates the handling process for freight forwarders managing multi-leg international shipments, reducing the coordination otherwise required when combining services from different carriers on a single Air Waybill.

What should I do if my Skyteam Cargo parcel is lost or damaged?

Claims for lost or damaged cargo handled through the SkyTeam Cargo network are processed at the individual member airline level rather than centrally by the alliance. Each member airline operates its own cargo liability framework and claims procedures. A claimant should direct their claim to the airline that issued the Air Waybill covering the shipment or, in a multi-leg routing, to the last carrier in custody of the freight at the point the loss or damage was identified. The alliance management office in Amstelveen handles general commercial inquiries but does not process claims on behalf of member airlines.

The legal framework governing liability for international air cargo is the Montreal Convention, which replaced the Warsaw Convention for most countries that have ratified it. Under standard IATA practice, written notice of damage must be filed within 14 days of receiving the cargo, and delay claims must be submitted within 21 days of the date the goods were placed at the disposal of the consignee. Missing either deadline typically extinguishes the right to claim. Liability under the Montreal Convention is capped at a specified amount per kilogram unless the shipper declared a higher value at the time of booking, which would have incurred a declared value charge on the Air Waybill.

• Claims contact: The member airline that issued the Air Waybill or handled the freight at the point of loss or damage
• Damage notice deadline: 14 days from the date of receipt of the cargo
• Delay claim deadline: 21 days from the date the goods were placed at the disposal of the consignee
• Required documents: Original Air Waybill, proof of the shipment's declared value, a damage report issued at the destination cargo facility, and photographs of any damaged goods
• Legal framework: Montreal Convention governs liability limits and procedural requirements for international air cargo in most countries
• Higher value declarations: Shippers who declared a higher cargo value on the Air Waybill at time of booking may claim up to that declared amount rather than the standard per-kilogram limit

For shipments that cannot be located within the standard tracing period, formal tracing requests are submitted through the member airline's cargo tracing procedures. The SkyLink platform provides a starting point for identifying the last recorded location of a shipment based on barcode scans captured during handling. If the cargo cannot be traced and is declared lost, compensation follows the Montreal Convention limits unless a higher value was declared and the corresponding declared value charge was paid at the time of booking.

Does Skyteam Cargo handle international shipments and customs formalities?

International freight is the core of SkyTeam Cargo's operations, connecting more than 150 countries through the combined networks of its seven active member airlines. Every shipment carried through the alliance is documented on an Air Waybill, which serves as the contract of carriage and a primary customs declaration document at import. Standard shipments also require a commercial invoice and packing list, with a shipper's export declaration required in the origin country depending on local regulations. Customs clearance at the destination is not performed by SkyTeam Cargo or its member airlines but by the consignee's appointed customs broker or freight forwarder.

The alliance has actively supported the e-Freight initiative, which replaces paper-based documentation with electronic messages at stages of the supply chain where national customs authorities have adopted compatible electronic systems. This program targets approximately two-thirds of the physical paperwork involved in a standard air cargo shipment and is estimated to save the industry up to $4.9 billion per year. The responsibility for paying import duties and taxes falls to whichever party is specified under the Incoterms agreed between the commercial parties to the transaction, not by the alliance or its member airlines unilaterally.

• Documentation required: Air Waybill, commercial invoice, packing list, and shipper's export declaration where required by the origin country
• Customs clearance: Performed by the consignee's appointed customs broker or freight forwarder at the destination, not by SkyTeam Cargo
• Duty responsibility: Determined by the Incoterms agreed between buyer and seller; Delivered Duty Paid arrangements are possible through the freight forwarder and member airline
• Dangerous goods: Transported in compliance with IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, with each member airline maintaining its own restrictions in addition to universal IATA requirements
• Regulated cargo: Pharmaceuticals, live animals, high-value goods, and certain controlled substances each require specific documentation and handling arrangements at both origin and destination
• e-Freight: Electronic documentation replaces paper customs records where national systems permit, reducing aircraft weight and accelerating customs processing

Geopolitical factors have directly affected international routing through the alliance. The suspension of Aeroflot Cargo in April 2022, combined with the closure of Russian airspace to Western carriers, forced rerouting of Europe-Asia freight over longer southern flight paths, increasing fuel costs by an estimated 20 to 30% on those corridors. Trade policy changes and tariff escalations between major economies have at times reduced cargo volumes on trans-Pacific routes served by member airlines, demonstrating how regulatory and political factors outside the alliance's control can affect capacity, transit times, and shipping costs.

Understanding tracking statuses

SkyTeam Cargo provides a Track and Trace tool accessible through the alliance website and through a dedicated tracking domain. The system operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Customers enter their Air Waybill number to retrieve the current status of a shipment. The underlying technology uses barcode scanning at key handling points throughout the transit, with status data fed through SkyLink, the centralized IT platform that integrates tracking information from all member airlines into a single interface covering the full end-to-end journey.

Air Waybill numbers follow the IATA standard format of a 3-digit airline prefix, a hyphen, and an 8-digit serial number. Each member airline uses a specific prefix assigned by IATA. Delta Cargo uses the prefix 006, Aerolíneas Argentinas Cargo uses 044, Air France Cargo uses 057, Saudia Cargo uses 065, KLM Cargo uses 074, China Cargo Airlines uses 112, Aeroméxico Cargo uses 139, and Korean Air Cargo uses 180. The prefix identifies which airline issued the Air Waybill and is the primary reference point for directing inquiries or claims to the correct carrier within the network.