Skip to content

Air Freight – Worldwide Shipments in 24–72 Hours

Air freight is the fastest option for intercontinental shipments: depending on the destination 24 to 72 hours from handover, primarily via the Frankfurt cargo hub. The price per kilo is considerably above sea and land transport but saves days to weeks – decisive with production stoppages, contractual penalties or perishable goods.

Aircraft air freight – air freight

Air freight is the fastest option when your shipment has to travel intercontinentally: depending on the destination, air-cargo shipments reach their destination worldwide in 24 to 72 hours. The price per kilogram is considerably above sea and land transport – in return you gain days to weeks of transit time, which quickly outweighs the higher freight costs in the event of production stoppages, contractual penalties or perishable goods.

Speed Logistics organises your air freight as a seamless chain: run-up by direct run from the plant to the airport, booking via established IATA carriers – primarily via the Frankfurt cargo hub –, export handling and, on request, delivery to the consignee's door. One contact, one fixed price, reachable around the clock.

Scope of service in air freight

  • Export and import: booking, AWB issuance and handling via IATA carriers from Frankfurt and other German airports.
  • Run-up and onward run: pickup by van or truck as a direct run – timed exactly to the acceptance deadline (cut-off) of the flight.
  • Customs clearance: export declaration, preference and origin documents as well as import clearance in the destination country in coordination with your consignee.
  • Security-compliant handling: handover via approved participants in the secure supply chain, so that your shipment is cleared without additional X-ray waiting times.

AOG express and time-critical special cases

For the aviation industry we operate a prioritised AOG handling (aircraft on ground): spare parts for MRO operations are booked onto the next available flight, the run-up sets off immediately, and the dispatch team accompanies the shipment through to handover. Export-controlled shipments too – such as components subject to US regulations like ITAR – we handle in close coordination with your export control and the competent authorities; we clarify the permit situation before booking, not afterwards.

How your air freight shipment works

You give us the dimensions, weight, destination and date. We check flight connections and cut-off times, calculate the run-up, main run and ancillary costs, and send you a fixed-price quote within a few hours. After your approval, we pick up, clear the export and hand over to the carrier – with status reports through to proof of delivery in the destination country.

When air freight is the right choice

Air freight is worthwhile for high-value, compact and urgent goods: machine spare parts, electronics, medical technology, samples and documents. For large-volume or heavy shipments, we check the truck direct run as an alternative for you – on lanes such as to Türkiye or the Middle East it is often only marginally slower, but considerably cheaper and lower in CO₂.

Packaging and preparation of your shipment

Air freight is transhipped several times and must be packed accordingly: sturdy cartons or crates, palletised and strapped, sensitive goods with internal padding. Wooden packaging for destinations outside the EU must comply with the ISPM 15 standard (treated and marked wood), otherwise complaints threaten in the destination country. Dangerous goods are strictly regulated in air freight – whether and how your goods may fly we clarify before booking based on the dangerous goods data.

Helpful for a fast, robust quote are complete details: dimensions per package, gross weight, goods description with the customs tariff number, goods value and the desired delivery date. With these, we check flight connections and cut-off times and give you a realistic overall transit time instead of a pure flight time.

Frequently asked questions: Air Freight

How fast is air freight really?

The pure flight time is short; decisive are cut-off times, transhipment and customs clearance: realistically, air freight shipments reach their destination worldwide in 24 to 72 hours from handover. Speed Logistics times the run-up by direct run exactly to the acceptance deadline of the flight, so that no time is lost on the ground.

What does AOG mean in air freight?

AOG stands for aircraft on ground – an aircraft is grounded due to a missing spare part. Every hour costs the operator considerable sums, so AOG shipments are handled with the highest priority: immediate run-up, booking onto the next available flight and continuous accompaniment by the dispatch team through to handover to the MRO operation.

How is the price of an air freight shipment calculated?

The basis is the chargeable weight: the higher value of the actual weight and the volumetric weight (in air freight usually 1 m³ ≈ 167 kg). Added to this are the run-up and onward run, security and fuel surcharges as well as customs clearance. Speed Logistics combines all items in a transparent fixed-price quote.

Does Speed Logistics also take over the customs clearance for air freight?

Yes. We produce the export declaration, take care of origin and preference documents and coordinate the import clearance in the destination country with your consignee or their broker. This way your shipment runs from EXW to DDP through one hand – without interface losses between forwarder, airline and customs agent.

Can export-controlled goods such as ITAR components be shipped by air freight?

Yes, provided the required permits are in place. Shipments subject to export control regimes such as ITAR or the EU Dual-Use Regulation we handle in close coordination with your export control department. Important: the permit situation must be clarified before booking – we check this together with you in advance.

When is a truck direct transport the better alternative to air freight?

For large-volume or heavy shipments within Europe and on overland lanes such as to Türkiye or the Middle East: a direct run there is often only one to two days slower, but considerably cheaper and lower in CO₂. Speed Logistics compares both options for you and recommends the most economical solution for your deadline.

Which details and which packaging does my air freight shipment need?

For a robust quote, dimensions per package, gross weight, goods description with the customs tariff number, goods value and delivery date help. Air freight is transhipped several times and must be packed sturdily; wooden packaging for destinations outside the EU must comply with the ISPM 15 standard, and whether dangerous goods may fly at all is clarified before booking based on the dangerous goods data.

Why is air freight worthwhile despite high per-kilo prices?

The price per kilogram is considerably above sea and land transport, yet on intercontinental lanes you gain days to weeks of transit time. With production stoppages, threatening contractual penalties or perishable goods, this time gain quickly outweighs the higher freight costs – especially with high-value, compact and urgent shipments.

Request air freight

Contact our dispatch team – fixed-price quote within hours, available 24/7.