When air freight is the right answer
- The deadline is fixed and close. A production line waiting on one component, a trade show, a seasonal window that closes on a known date.
- The cargo is high value and light. Air is charged on chargeable weight, so dense low-value cargo rarely justifies it. Light, expensive cargo often does.
- The order is a first shipment or a sample. Air de-risks a new buyer relationship without committing stock to a month at sea.
- The alternative is a stock-out. Compare the air premium against the cost of not having the goods — that comparison, not the freight line, is the real decision.
IMAGE SLOTAir cargo handling on the apronassets/img/air-cargo-01.jpg
What we handle
- Factory collection. Pickup anywhere in China and trucking to the departure airport.
- Consolidation and screening. Grouping air cargo, and ensuring each consignment meets the security screening requirements that air transport imposes.
- Export declaration. Filed in-house, so the air waybill, the invoice and the export declaration are produced by people who can talk to each other.
- Space and booking. Booked with the carrier on the routing that actually fits your deadline, not the first flight that shows availability.
- Destination. Through our overseas partners: import clearance, and delivery to the consignee's premises.
- Import into China. The same service in the other direction, for goods arriving from Europe, North America and Asia.
Chargeable weight, explained simply
Air cargo is priced on chargeable weight: the greater of the actual weight in kilos and the volumetric weight calculated from the dimensions. That single rule explains most of the surprises on an air invoice. A large light carton can cost more than a small heavy one, which is why we ask for dimensions and weight per carton at the enquiry stage rather than estimating from the total.
Send us the number of cartons and the dimensions and weight of one carton, plus the commodity and the deadline. That is enough for us to tell you whether air is the sensible option, and what the routing would be.
Cargo that air will not take without preparation
- Lithium batteries, whether loose, in equipment or in vehicles — heavily regulated, and some configurations cannot fly at all.
- Liquids, powders and chemicals, which need a safety data sheet and a classification before a carrier will consider them.
- Oversized or very heavy pieces, which are limited by the aircraft and the loading equipment rather than by the airline's willingness.
- Perishables and temperature-sensitive cargo, which need the right routing rather than the fastest one.
Tell us at the enquiry stage if any of these apply. Discovering it at the airport is how a shipment misses its flight.
Air, rail and sea together
The practical answer for many shippers is a mix. High-value launch stock comes by air so the season is not missed, the bulk replenishment follows by rail, and the heavy slow-moving lines go by sea. We book all three, so the split can be decided shipment by shipment rather than by whichever forwarder you called first. See the rail versus sea versus air guide for how the three compare.
Frequently asked questions
How long does air freight from China take?
Air transit is measured in days rather than weeks, which is the whole reason the mode exists. The door-to-door time depends more on the collection, screening and destination clearance than on the flying itself, so we quote it as part of a route plan rather than as a single number.
How is air freight charged?
On chargeable weight, which is the greater of the actual weight and the volumetric weight calculated from the dimensions. Because of that, light bulky cargo often costs more than people expect and small heavy cargo less. Send dimensions and weight per carton and we can price it accurately.
Can you ship lithium batteries by air?
Some lithium battery configurations can fly and some cannot, and the rules depend on whether the cells are loose, installed in equipment, or in a vehicle. Tell us exactly what the shipment contains at the enquiry stage and we will tell you what is possible before you commit.
Do you handle import air freight into China as well as export?
Yes. We handle both directions, including import declaration in China and delivery to your premises, using the same in-house documentation team.
Is air freight worth it compared with rail?
It depends entirely on what the delay would cost you. Air is several times the cost of rail on the same lane, so it earns its place where a missed deadline or a stopped production line costs more than the premium. We will happily tell you when rail is the better answer.