Assertion: Air transport has limited participation in international trade as compared to the oceanic routes.

Reasoning: It is very costly and unsuitable for carrying heavy and bulky commodities.

Both Assertion (A) and reasoning (R) are correct and R is the correct explanation of A.

Air transport plays an important role in the international trade. It has the advantage of taking the least time for carriage and handling high value or perishable goods over long distances. It is very costly and unsuitable for carrying heavy and bulky commodities. This ultimately reduces the participation of this sector in international trade as compared to the oceanic routes.