Air freight
Your cargo is handed to an airline, flown to the destination airport, then cleared and delivered. Far quicker than sea and more expensive, which suits urgent or high-value cargo.
What it is
Put it on a plane, save the time
With air freight, your cargo is handed to an airline, flown to the destination airport, cleared through customs and delivered to the recipient. It spends far less time on the way than it would by sea.
Space on an aircraft is limited, so air freight costs more than sea and comes with more restrictions. Airlines have specific rules for batteries, magnets, liquids and powders, so these need checking first.
A few words worth knowing
- Actual weight
- What the cargo weighs on the scale, packaging included.
- Volumetric weight
- A weight worked out from length, width and height. For big, light cargo it is higher than the actual weight.
- Chargeable weight
- Actual or volumetric weight, whichever is greater. Air freight is charged on it.
A good fit
- Cargo you need soon
- High-value cargo that does not take much space
- Samples, restocks and goods racing a launch date
- Things that should not spend long in transit
Not such a good fit
- Large, heavy cargo with no deadline: sea costs far less
- Batteries, magnets, liquids, powders: check with us first
- Light but bulky cargo: charged by volume, so poor value
Some items cannot be shipped, or only under certain conditions. Please check before you send anything. See prohibited items
How it works
How an air shipment travels
Air freight is quick in transit. The weight and dimensions taken in the warehouse decide the chargeable weight.
Each completed step adds a record to your order. We text you when it is accepted, dispatched or delivered, and if anything goes wrong. If a route does not need one of the stages, that stage does not appear.
Warehouse photos appear in your order after you sign in
- 01
Accepted
We confirm what you are shipping, its weight and size, and whether it contains batteries, liquids or anything else airlines restrict. Your order number is created and texted to you.
- Accepted
- 02
Warehouse
At the warehouse your cargo is counted, inspected, packed, weighed and measured, with photos at every step. These figures are what the freight is based on.
- Received
- Inspected
- Packed
- Dispatched
- 03
Export customs
We prepare the documents and declare to export customs. Cargo can only fly once it is released.
- Declaring
- Released
- 04
In transit
Where this service differs mostThe cargo is handed to the airline. Take-off is recorded as Departed, landing at the destination airport as Arrived, and the airline's tracking is synced to your order.
- Departed
- Arrived
- 05
Import customs
Import clearance is handled after landing. If customs inspects the cargo, we record that in your order and notify you.
- Clearing
- Cleared
- 06
Delivery
Once released, the cargo is delivered from the airport to the recipient's address. The order is complete when it is signed for.
- Out for delivery
- Delivered
Before you ship
What you need to prepare
Our team creates the order for you. Give us the details below and we can accept your shipment.
- 1
A cargo list
Be specific about what each item is, and add the quantity and rough weight and size.
- 2
Anything sensitive
Batteries, magnets, liquids, powders or aerosols: tell us up front so we can check whether they can fly.
- 3
Recipient details
Name, phone number, destination country and full address.
- 4
Domestic tracking number
If you send the cargo to our warehouse yourself, tell us the courier tracking number so we can match it to your order.
Cost
How air freight is charged
Air freight is charged on chargeable weight: not just how heavy the cargo is, but how much room it takes.
Actual or volumetric, whichever is greater
We weigh the cargo, work out a volumetric weight from its dimensions, and charge on the greater of the two.
Do not pack a lot of empty space
For the same weight, a bigger carton means a higher volumetric weight. Compact packing can lower the freight.
Weighed and measured at packing, and recorded in your order
This explains the method, not a price. The actual price depends on the route, the cargo and the timing, so go by the quote we give you.
See how we chargeFAQ
Air freight: common questions
Can't find your answer? Just get in touch.
How is air freight different from express?
Air freight is for larger shipments: the cargo goes to an airline, and we arrange customs and delivery at both ends. Express suits small parcels and stays inside the courier's own network from export to the door. For a parcel or two, express is simpler. For more cargo, air freight is usually better value.
Can items with batteries go by air?
It depends on the type of battery and how it is packed. Airlines have specific rules for battery-powered goods. Tell us about the product and its battery before shipping, and we will confirm whether it can fly and how it should be packed.
My cargo is light. Why is it charged by volume?
Space on an aircraft is limited, and big, light cargo takes up a lot of it. So a volumetric weight is worked out from the dimensions and compared with the actual weight, and the greater one is charged.
How long does air freight take?
It depends on the origin, the destination and the flight, and it varies between routes. When you ask for a quote we will tell you roughly how long your route takes. Flight changes and customs inspections can add time.
Other services
Look at another service
Not quite right for you? Here are the other four.
Sea freight
Full containers or shared space. Low cost, ideal for large, heavy or bulk cargo.
Learn moreInternational express
Documents, samples and small parcels, door to door.
Learn moreParcel consolidation
Send several parcels to our warehouse and ship them out as one to save on freight.
Learn moreE-commerce logistics
Small-parcel and dedicated-line shipping for cross-border sellers.
Learn more
Something to ship? Ask for a quote
Tell us what you are shipping, from where and to where. We will get back to you with a plan and a price.