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Air Freight – Fast Transport Solutions for Worldwide Shipments

Air freight is the fastest way for worldwide shipments – airport-to-airport between the major economic regions in 24 to 72 hours. It fits when sea freight is too slow and a truck is not a geographical option; Speed Logistics organises pre- and on-carriage by truck, booking and customs door-to-door.

Cargo aircraft from above – air freight with Speed Logistics

Air freight is the fastest way to move goods worldwide: between the major economic regions, airport-to-airport transit times are 24 to 72 hours. It is the right choice when sea freight is too slow and a truck is not a geographical option – for example for urgent spare parts overseas, high-value electronics or time-critical project components.

Speed Logistics organises your air freight shipment as a complete package: we handle the pre-carriage by truck to the departure airport, booking the right flight connection, export and import clearance, and on-carriage to the delivery address – door-to-door from a single source, with personal dispatch around the clock.

Scope of Services: Air Freight Door-to-Door

  • Pre- and on-carriage by truck: collection at the factory with the right vehicle from the panel van to the articulated truck, delivery in the destination country to the door
  • Booking by priority: the fastest connection at maximum urgency, or more economical routings with transhipment when there is one to two days of leeway
  • Export and import clearance included – from the export declaration to clearance in the destination country, EXW to DDP
  • Air-freight-compliant packaging: advice on cartons, skids and labelling, so the shipment meets security and handling requirements
  • Premium handling for sensitive and high-value goods with continuous shipment tracking via our dispatch team

As a freight forwarder, we are not tied to a single airline: we choose the connection that best matches the deadline, route and budget for each shipment – and, on request, combine air freight on the long haul with a truck direct transport for pre- and on-carriage, including across borders.

Process and Planning of an Air Freight Shipment

For a reliable quote we need the collection and destination address, dimensions, weight, goods description and the desired delivery date. Important to know: air freight is charged by chargeable weight – the higher of the actual weight and the volumetric weight. Light, bulky goods therefore cost more than the scale weight suggests; compact packaging reduces costs immediately.

When planning, we take into account the customs regulations of the destination country, packaging guidelines and the documentation situation – commercial invoice, packing list and, depending on the goods, proofs of origin. Careful preparation avoids delays at security screening and customs clearance, which would otherwise quickly eat up the time advantage of air freight. After booking, you receive the planned key times – collection, departure, arrival, delivery – and we report every milestone back proactively.

Air Freight or Express Direct Transport by Truck?

Within Europe and to neighbouring non-EU countries such as Türkiye, a comparison is worthwhile: an express direct transport by panel van or truck is often just as fast door-to-door as air freight – because with air freight, on top of the 24 to 72 hours between airports, there are pre-carriage, security screening, transhipment and customs clearance. We compare both options for you transparently and recommend the route that actually meets your deadline. For intercontinental traffic to Asia, the Americas or the Gulf region, air freight remains unrivalled in speed. Combinations are also possible – for example air freight to the European hub and express delivery by panel van into the regions.

What Does Air Freight Cost?

Costs vary according to chargeable weight, destination, urgency and current rates; on top of this come fuel and security surcharges, handling fees and, where applicable, duties and insurance. Because rates fluctuate with the market, we calculate on a daily basis: send us your shipment data and you will receive a no-obligation quote with all cost components within a few hours.

Air Freight vs. Sea Freight Compared
CriterionAir FreightSea Freight
Transit Time24–72 h (airport–airport)Weeks (port–port)
CostHigher, by chargeable weightLowest price per tonne
Ideal ForUrgent, high-value goodsLarge volumes, plannable procurement
BillingChargeable weightContainer (FCL / LCL)

Frequently asked questions: Air Freight

How long does an air freight transport take?

The airport-to-airport transit time between the major economic regions is 24 to 72 hours. For the door-to-door transit time, pre-carriage to the airport, security screening, transhipment and customs clearance are added – realistically about three to six days depending on the lane. With complete documents and a prioritised booking, the transit time can be shortened noticeably.

What does chargeable weight mean in air freight?

Air freight is charged by the higher of the actual weight and the volumetric weight. The volumetric weight is derived from the dimensions of the shipment – so light, bulky goods are charged by volume, not by scale weight. Compact, air-freight-compliant packaging therefore reduces costs immediately. We advise you on this before booking.

What documents do I need for an air freight shipment?

Standard are the commercial invoice and packing list; depending on the goods and destination country, proofs of origin, licences or product-specific certificates are added. We prepare the air waybill (AWB) and the export declaration for you. Complete documents are decisive so that security screening and customs clearance do not eat up the time advantage of air freight.

Does Speed Logistics also handle customs clearance for air freight?

Yes, customs clearance is part of our door-to-door service: we prepare the export declaration, accompany clearance at the departure airport and organise import clearance in the destination country – from EXW to DDP, depending on the agreed delivery term. This gives you one contact for transport and customs across the entire chain.

When is an express direct transport by truck faster than air freight?

Within Europe and to nearby non-EU countries such as Türkiye, a direct transport is often equally fast or faster door-to-door, because air freight's pre-carriage, security screening, transhipment and customs clearance are eliminated. Only for intercontinental traffic to Asia, the Americas or the Gulf region does air freight fully play out its speed advantage. We compare both options for you.

What determines the cost of an air freight shipment?

The decisive factors are chargeable weight, destination, urgency and the current daily freight rates. Added to this are fuel and security surcharges, handling fees and, where applicable, duties and transport insurance. Because rates fluctuate, flat prices are not credible – we calculate your shipment on a daily basis and disclose all cost components transparently.

Common mistakes with air freight shipments – what to watch out for?

Two mistakes eat up the time advantage of air freight: bulky packaging and incomplete documents. Because billing is by chargeable weight, loose, voluminous goods drive up costs – compact, air-freight-compliant packaging reduces them immediately. If the commercial invoice, packing list or proofs of origin are missing, security screening and customs clearance block the shipment. We advise on both before booking.

Why choose air freight despite the higher cost?

Because time is often worth more than freight: for urgent spare parts overseas, high-value electronics or time-critical project components, 24 to 72 hours between airports are unrivalled compared with the weeks of sea freight. On intercontinental lanes to Asia, the Americas or the Gulf region, there is effectively no faster alternative to air freight – and the knock-on costs of a standstill usually far exceed the rate difference.

Request air freight

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