There is no ship's deck on an aircraft.
Four of the Incoterms® 2020 rules — FAS, FOB, CFR and CIF — are used only for sea and inland waterway transport, because all four define the delivery point by reference to a vessel. Using them on an air, road or rail shipment does not void the contract, but it blurs the moment risk passes; the result is a discrepancy under the credit, a gap in the insurance and a valuation argument in the customs declaration.
The four sea rules and the reason
Seven of the eleven Incoterms® 2020 rules work for any mode of transport: EXW, FCA, CPT, CIP, DAP, DPU, DDP. The remaining four are for sea and inland waterway only.
- FAS
- Delivery is placing the goods alongside the vessel, on the quay or a barge.
- FOB
- Delivery is loading the goods on board the vessel.
- CFR
- Risk passes on board; freight to the port of destination is the seller's.
- CIF
- The same as CFR, plus an insurance obligation on the seller.
What the four have in common is plain: each uses a physical reference point called "the vessel". On an aircraft, a truck or a wagon that reference point has no equivalent. The rule becomes unable to define the moment of delivery.
The right equivalent of the wrong rule
Correcting a wrong rule is usually a one-line change. The mapping below lets you express the same commercial intent with the right rule.
| Written | Mode | Problem | Correct rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| FOB | Air | No ship's deck; the moment of delivery is undefined | FCA [airport or agent's address] |
| FOB | Road | The same; export clearance also becomes unclear | FCA [place of loading] |
| FOB | Container (sea) | Technically valid but not recommended by the ICC; a risk gap opens | FCA [terminal] — detail |
| CIF | Air | No vessel reference; the insurance obligation stays unclear | CIP [place of destination] |
| CIF | Road | The same | CIP [place of destination] |
| CFR | Air / road | The same | CPT [place of destination] |
| FAS | Any mode other than sea | There is no quay | FCA [place of loading] |
| CNF / C&F | Any mode | Not an Incoterms® rule | CFR (sea) or CPT (other) |
| DDU | Any mode | Removed in 2010 | DAP |
| DAT | Any mode | Renamed in 2020 | DPU |
When converting CIF to CIP the insurance level changes too: the minimum under CIF is Institute Cargo Clauses (C), under CIP it is (A). Review the policy and the price when you correct the rule.
What happens when used in the wrong mode
The contract does not become void. The parties usually know what they meant. The problem appears when something goes wrong — and at that moment the question to be answered is "exactly when did the risk pass".
- A discrepancy under the credit. The bank deals in documents. If an air waybill is presented while the sale says "FOB", the inconsistency between the document and the contract can be a ground for discrepancy, and payment depends on the buyer's acceptance.
- A gap in the insurance. The policy is written to match the delivery term. If the moment of delivery is undefined, the insurer opens the question of whose period of interest the damage fell into.
- A valuation argument in the declaration. The delivery term decides whether freight and insurance are included in the customs value. If the rule does not fit the mode, which costs are included becomes unclear.
- An unclear counterpart after damage. If it is disputed who carried the risk, the claim file circulates between carrier, insurer, seller and buyer.
In any mode other than sea, write FCA if you need an F rule, CPT or CIP if you need a C rule. These three work in every mode and cover every commercial intent the four sea rules were meant to serve.
If you want an insurance obligation, your only option is CIP — CIF has no equivalent outside sea transport. CIP's minimum cover is ICC (A); price accordingly.
Always write rule + full place + version into the contract. Example: "CPT Hamburg, Incoterms® 2020".
When it goes wrong
"FOB" on an air cargo invoice
Written out of habit, and mostly nobody notices. When damage or delay occurs, the moment risk passed is thrown open: when the goods were handed to the agent, when they were loaded on the aircraft, or on arrival? The rule itself cannot answer, because there is no "ship's deck" in air freight.
The right way: FCA plus the full name of the delivery place. In air cargo that is usually the airport cargo terminal or the agent's warehouse.
Insurance skipped when CIF is converted to CIP
The rule is corrected but the policy stays at the old level. CIF's minimum is ICC (C), CIP's is ICC (A). If the policy stays at (C) the seller breaches CIP and, in a claim, pays the difference in cover itself.
An old-version code written in the declaration
Official code lists may keep carrying the codes of older versions. A code appearing in the list does not mean it is a rule of Incoterms® 2020 in force. Download the current list from the Turkish Ministry of Trade's own page and confirm.
Frequently asked
If I write CIF on an air shipment, is my contract void?
No, the contract is not void. The parties have expressed their intent. But the moment of delivery and risk transfer can no longer be determined by the rule's own definition; in a dispute a judge or arbitrator fills that gap.
In practice that means an unpredictable outcome. Correcting the rule to CIP is a one-line job and removes the uncertainty entirely.
Which rule should I use for a road shipment?
All seven multimodal rules can be used: EXW, FCA, CPT, CIP, DAP, DPU, DDP. On road exports from Turkey to Europe the most common are FCA, CPT, CIP and DAP.
The question to ask when choosing: who pays the freight, and where should risk change hands? If the answer points to the F group, FCA; to the C group, CPT or CIP; to the D group, DAP.
Is "door to door" a delivery term?
No. "Door to door", "port to port" and "door to port" are operational terms describing the scope of a service; they are not Incoterms® rules and do not define risk transfer.
Seeing them in a transport quotation is normal. But if one of them appears in the contract of sale in place of a delivery term, it is unclear who carries the risk.
Sources
- ICC — Incoterms® 2020 Introduction (Publication No. 723E) The split of the rules by mode of transport. The introduction is signed by Charles Debattista (ICC Special Adviser, Incoterms® 2020 Drafting Group); by its own note the views are the author's and not part of the rules · icc-switzerland.ch · accessed 1 Sep 2026
- ICC — Incoterms® 2020 official page Scope and entry into force of the rules · iccwbo.org · accessed 1 Sep 2026
- Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Trade — Delivery term codes The code list to be used in declarations (page dated 4 May 2026) · ticaret.gov.tr · accessed 1 Sep 2026
- Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Trade — Customs value (FAQ) The limit for including freight and insurance in the customs value · ticaret.gov.tr · accessed 1 Sep 2026
This page is for information only and is not legal or customs advice. The current list of codes to be used in declarations is published by the Turkish Ministry of Trade and may change; confirm on the Ministry's own page before filing. Incoterms® is a registered trademark of the ICC.
Change log
- Page published as the English counterpart of the Turkish page of 1 Sep 2026. Basis: ICC Incoterms® 2020.