A ULD (Unit Load Device) is used to consolidate airfreight cargo into a single unit, making it faster and easier to load onto an aircraft.

The first three letters of a ULD’s IATA code identify its type, size, and shape. This is key information for determining what cargo it can carry and which aircraft it’s compatible with.

ULDs come in two main forms: pallets and containers. Both allow large quantities of cargo to be bundled into a single unit for loading onto wide-body aircraft and certain narrow-body aircraft.

Cargo on pallets is secured with a net attached to the pallet’s rim. Containers which are also known as cans or pods, are typically lightweight structures made up of a base, a frame with side and roof panels, and a fabric or solid door. Containers come in several types, including collapsible, insulated, ventilated, and refrigerated variants.

The images below show the dimensions of the ULDs used across our aircraft for air cargo operations, including our standard and non-standard containers.