A method for transporting the weft thread through the shed of an air-jet weaving machine having a nozzle fed with a flowing transportation medium, wherein the portion, changeable along the weft thread, of the natural thread charges arranged irregularly on the weft thread is contactlessly registered by means of an electrode array, wherein the changing total charge is determined on the electrode array, wherein the periodic change in the total charge is evaluated for determining the axial velocity of the weft thread, and wherein the nozzle of the weaving machine is controlled as a function of the axial velocity of the weft.