Air
Air cargo containers (ULDs)
ULDs (Unit Load Devices) are the containers and pallets loaded into an aircraft’s hold. Each one is shaped to fit the fuselage.
Lower deck or main deck
On wide-body passenger aircraft, cargo travels in the lower deck, with a usable height of around 163 cm. On freighters, the main deck takes pallets up to 244 or 300 cm high. On narrow-body aircraft such as the A320, the hold only takes low-profile containers (AKH, around 114 cm).
Lower-deck containers
Pallets
Temperature-controlled
Drawings to scale relative to each other. 1.75 m person
AKE LD3
The most common air cargo container. Its sloped side follows the curve of the fuselage.
- IATA code
- AKE
- Also known as
- LD3
- Base
- 156 × 153 cm
- Height
- 163 cm
- Max. weight (MGW)
- 1,588 kg
- Tare
- 65–90 kg
- Volume
- ≈ 4.3 m³
- Where it travels
- Lower deck of wide-body aircraft (B777, B787, A330, A350…)
AKH LD3-45
The low-profile version of the LD3, designed for the hold of narrow-body aircraft.
- IATA code
- AKH
- Also known as
- LD3-45
- Base
- 156 × 153 cm
- Height
- 114 cm
- Max. weight (MGW)
- 1,134–1,588 kg
- Tare
- 76–84 kg
- Volume
- ≈ 3.4 m³
- Where it travels
- Hold of narrow-body aircraft (A320, A321)
DPE LD2
A half-size container, designed for the B767 hold.
- IATA code
- DPE
- Also known as
- LD2
- Base
- 154 × 120 cm
- Height
- 163 cm
- Max. weight (MGW)
- 1,225 kg
- Tare
- 69–92 kg
- Volume
- ≈ 3.4 m³
- Where it travels
- Lower deck of the B767 and B777
ALF LD6
Twice the width of an LD3, with a contour on both sides.
- IATA code
- ALF
- Also known as
- LD6
- Base
- 318 × 153 cm
- Height
- Lower-deck contour
- Max. weight (MGW)
- 3,175 kg
- Tare
- 153–230 kg
- Volume
- ≈ 8.9 m³
- Where it travels
- Lower deck of wide-body aircraft (B777, B787, A330, A350…)
AAP LD9
A rectangular container on a 318 × 224 cm pallet base.
- IATA code
- AAP
- Also known as
- LD9
- Base
- 318 × 224 cm
- Height
- 163 cm
- Max. weight (MGW)
- 4,624–6,033 kg
- Tare
- 200–270 kg
- Volume
- ≈ 10.3–10.8 m³
- Where it travels
- Lower deck of wide-body aircraft (B777, B787, A330, A350…)
PMC P6P
The 96-inch pallet: the great workhorse of air cargo. It can be built up to several height contours.
- IATA code
- PMC
- Also known as
- P6P
- Base
- 318 × 244 cm
- Height
- 163 / 244 / 300 cm
- Max. weight (MGW)
- ≤ 6,804 kg
- Tare
- 101–120 kg
- Volume
- 11.5 / 17 / 21.2 m³
- Where it travels
- Lower deck and freighter main deck
PAG P1P
The 88-inch pallet, found on almost every wide-body aircraft.
- IATA code
- PAG
- Also known as
- P1P
- Base
- 318 × 224 cm
- Height
- 163 cm
- Max. weight (MGW)
- 4,626–6,804 kg
- Tare
- 90–110 kg
- Volume
- ≈ 10.3–10.9 m³
- Where it travels
- Lower deck and freighter main deck
PLA 60.4"
A half pallet, handy for long, narrow loads.
- IATA code
- PLA
- Also known as
- 60.4"
- Base
- 318 × 153 cm
- Height
- 163 cm
- Max. weight (MGW)
- 3,175 kg
- Tare
- 90–101 kg
- Volume
- ≈ 7 m³
- Where it travels
- Lower deck of wide-body aircraft (B777, B787, A330, A350…)
PGA 20'
A 20-foot pallet for the main deck of freighters.
- IATA code
- PGA
- Also known as
- 20'
- Base
- 606 × 244 cm
- Height
- 244 / 300 cm
- Max. weight (MGW)
- 11,300 kg
- Tare
- 500–540 kg
- Volume
- 33.7 / 39.6 m³
- Where it travels
- Main deck of freighters (B747F, B777F)
RKN e1 Envirotainer
Active cooling for a single pallet: compressor, heater and batteries for around 58 hours.
- IATA code
- RKN e1
- Also known as
- Envirotainer
- External dimensions
- 200 × 153 × 163 cm
- Internal dimensions
- 134 × 132 × 132 cm
- Max. weight (MGW)
- 1,588 kg
- Tare
- 635 kg
- Volume
- 2.3 m³
- Temperature
- 0 … +25 °C
- Pallets
- 1
- Where it travels
- Lower deck of wide-body aircraft (B777, B787, A330, A350…)
RAP e2 Envirotainer
Active cooling for up to 5 euro pallets, with around 60 hours of autonomy.
- IATA code
- RAP e2
- Also known as
- Envirotainer
- External dimensions
- 318 × 224 × 163 cm
- Internal dimensions
- 247 × 206 × 126 cm
- Max. weight (MGW)
- 4,626–6,033 kg
- Tare
- 1,100 kg
- Volume
- 6.4 m³
- Temperature
- 0 … +25 °C
- Pallets
- 5 EUR · 4 US
- Where it travels
- Lower deck of wide-body aircraft (B777, B787, A330, A350…)
Releye RLP Envirotainer
A next-generation active container for 3 euro pallets, with up to 170 hours of autonomy.
- IATA code
- Releye RLP
- Also known as
- Envirotainer
- External dimensions
- 318 × 153 × 163 cm
- Internal dimensions
- 248 × 135 × 132 cm
- Max. weight (MGW)
- 3,175 kg
- Tare
- 880 kg
- Volume
- 4.4 m³
- Temperature
- +5 … +25 °C
- Pallets
- 3 EUR
- Where it travels
- Lower deck of wide-body aircraft (B777, B787, A330, A350…)
Temperature-controlled
For perishables and sensitive products, there are containers with active cooling. They hold their temperature for days using batteries and a compressor, or dry ice in the passive models.
Compare
| Type | Also known as | Base | Height | Max. weight (MGW) | Volume | Where it travels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AKE | LD3 | 156 × 153 cm | 163 cm | 1,588 kg | ≈ 4.3 m³ | Lower deck of wide-body aircraft (B777, B787, A330, A350…) |
| AKH | LD3-45 | 156 × 153 cm | 114 cm | 1,134–1,588 kg | ≈ 3.4 m³ | Hold of narrow-body aircraft (A320, A321) |
| DPE | LD2 | 154 × 120 cm | 163 cm | 1,225 kg | ≈ 3.4 m³ | Lower deck of the B767 and B777 |
| ALF | LD6 | 318 × 153 cm | Lower-deck contour | 3,175 kg | ≈ 8.9 m³ | Lower deck of wide-body aircraft (B777, B787, A330, A350…) |
| AAP | LD9 | 318 × 224 cm | 163 cm | 4,624–6,033 kg | ≈ 10.3–10.8 m³ | Lower deck of wide-body aircraft (B777, B787, A330, A350…) |
| PMC | P6P | 318 × 244 cm | 163 / 244 / 300 cm | ≤ 6,804 kg | 11.5 / 17 / 21.2 m³ | Lower deck and freighter main deck |
| PAG | P1P | 318 × 224 cm | 163 cm | 4,626–6,804 kg | ≈ 10.3–10.9 m³ | Lower deck and freighter main deck |
| PLA | 60.4" | 318 × 153 cm | 163 cm | 3,175 kg | ≈ 7 m³ | Lower deck of wide-body aircraft (B777, B787, A330, A350…) |
| PGA | 20' | 606 × 244 cm | 244 / 300 cm | 11,300 kg | 33.7 / 39.6 m³ | Main deck of freighters (B747F, B777F) |
Typical values: the usable space in each container may vary. The maximum permitted weight depends on the airline, the aircraft and the position in the hold. Sources: IAG Cargo, Lufthansa Cargo (2023), Swiss WorldCargo, Air India Cargo, Boeing, Envirotainer and American Airlines Cargo.
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