Due to the fact that the demand for air transportation has been increasing in recent decades, while at the same time the capacity of airports has not been increasing accordingly, many airlines have switched to the RFS system. The idea here is that goods are transported by "Hubs." On behalf of the airlines, goods are transported by truck from so-called "off-line-airports" to larger air cargo hubs, such as Frankfurt, Paris, or London, and further transported using air transport. The system also works in the reverse direction, i.e. goods are delivered to the transshipment port using air transport and are transported to the "off-line-airports" using trucks.

Thanks to its own favorable cost structure, the system has caught on quickly, delays can be easily made up by handover and overnight transports, making no difference to the shipper or customer. The RFS truck is legally treated as air freight and moves under a through number.

CONCERNSWNE

• System Hub and Spoke

• Air transport