International
Air Freight & Cargo Delivery

Why Choose Pallet2Ship for Air Freight?

• Worldwide air freight across a large network of international destinations
• Instant quotes for many standard air freight services
• No credit account needed — book and pay securely online
• No minimum volume — send one urgent shipment or arrange regular freight
• Door-to-door services and selected airport options, depending on the route
• Palletised and non-palletised cargo accepted where suitable
• Clear transport pricing before booking when shipment details are accurate
• Professional guidance on packing, customs documents and service selection
• Tracking available on most services, with updates available on request
• Optional insurance available during booking

What Is Air Freight?

Air freight is the movement of cargo by aircraft. Goods may travel in the cargo hold of a passenger aircraft or on a dedicated freighter aircraft, depending on the route, shipment size, and service selected.

The right service depends on the route, weight, dimensions, urgency, type of goods and whether door-to-door or airport-based transport is required.

How Long Does International Air Freight Take?

Express air freight on major international routes may take around 1-3 working days.

Standard air freight commonly takes around 3-7 working days, depending on the route, flight availability, carrier, customs clearance and final delivery location.

Airport-to-airport transit can be shorter than door-to-door delivery because the door-to-door timeframe may also include:

• collection from the sender;
• export handling;
• security screening;
• airport processing;
• customs clearance;
• onward delivery from the destination airport.

Remote destinations, restricted goods, customs inspections, public holidays and limited flight capacity can extend the transit time.

The exact timeframe for the selected service should be checked when comparing quotes.

How Is Air Freight Priced?

Air freight is normally priced using chargeable weight.

Chargeable weight is the greater of:

• Actual weight

  — the physical weight of the fully packed shipment.

• Volumetric weight

  — a calculated weight based on the space the shipment occupies.

The carrier charges on whichever figure is higher because aircraft capacity is limited by both physical weight and available space.

This means a large but lightweight consignment can cost more than its scale weight suggests.

How Is Air Freight Volumetric Weight Calculated?

A commonly used general air cargo formula is:

Length x width x height in centimetres ÷ 6,000

Some express carriers use a divisor of 5,000, which produces a higher volumetric weight. The divisor and rounding rules depend on the carrier and service selected. IATA describes 6,000 as the general air-cargo rule, while DHL Express commonly applies a divisor of 5,000.

Chargeable-Weight Example

A pallet measuring: 120 x 100 x 100 cm has a volumetric weight of:

• 200 kg when divided by 6,000;
• 240 kg when divided by 5,000.

If the pallet physically weighs 150 kg, the chargeable weight would therefore be:

• 200 kg on the service using a divisor of 6,000;
• 240 kg on the service using a divisor of 5,000.

The exact calculation depends on the carrier. Enter the actual weight and the full packed dimensions so the quotation can use the appropriate formula.

To control volumetric weight:

• pack goods as compactly as is safely possible;
• remove unnecessary void space;
• avoid oversized outer packaging;
• measure the shipment only after it is fully packed;
• include pallets, protrusions and protective packaging in the dimensions.

What Can You Send by Air Freight?

Pallet2Ship can help arrange air freight for a wide range of commercial goods, including:

• commercial stock and retail goods;
• machinery and spare parts;
• samples and replacement components;
• high-value goods;
• documents and small urgent commercial items;
• palletised industrial freight;
• non-palletised and irregularly shaped cargo, where suitable.

Air freight has stricter acceptance rules than road or sea freight. Some dangerous goods, batteries, liquids, chemicals, aerosols, magnets and other regulated items require additional checks or may be prohibited from travelling by air.

Alcohol is not carried on any service.

Personal effects are not carried through standard freight networks and may be sent using our DHL service only. They must be declared clearly and supported by a detailed inventory or Proforma Invoice.

Used furniture must be professionally packed by a removal company.

Some countries apply additional import restrictions, licences or documentation requirements. Check before booking if you are uncertain so the correct service can be selected.

Air Freight Service Options

Dangerous Goods and Restricted Freight by Air

Air transport of dangerous goods is tightly regulated, and the requirements are generally stricter than for road or sea freight.

Dangerous goods moving by air are subject to the ICAO Technical Instructions and the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, together with national, airline and route-specific restrictions.

Some dangerous goods may be possible following manual review and carrier approval, but they must not be booked through a standard air freight service or instant quote without prior confirmation.

Never assume a product can travel by air merely because:

• it is legal to buy or sell;
• it has previously travelled by road;
• it is commonly used in a business;
• it appears harmless in normal use.

Lithium batteries and battery-powered equipment are a common example. Batteries travelling alone, packed with equipment or contained in equipment can have different requirements. Some may be restricted to cargo aircraft or prohibited on particular routes.

Declare the goods before booking if the shipment contains:

• lithium batteries or battery-powered equipment;
• aerosols or compressed gases;
• paints, adhesives or flammable liquids;
• chemicals or cleaning products;
• magnets;
• corrosive substances;
• environmentally hazardous products;
• any other regulated material.

You may need to provide:

• a current Safety Data Sheet;
• UN number;
• proper shipping name;
• hazard class;
• packing group;
• quantities;
• package type;
• battery test summaries, where relevant;
• photographs of the packaging and labels;
• any required dangerous-goods declaration.

Where required, the shipper must provide a Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods certifying that the cargo has been packed, labelled and declared in accordance with the applicable rules.

Pallet2Ship does not:

• classify dangerous goods on the shipper's behalf;
• issue Safety Data Sheets;
• pack dangerous goods;
• apply regulated labels or markings;
• provide dangerous-goods certification;
• guarantee carrier acceptance before review.

Dangerous goods should be classified, packed, marked and labelled by a suitably trained dangerous-goods professional before collection.

Acceptance depends on the product, quantity, packaging, aircraft, route, carrier and destination.

How to Book Air Freight with Pallet2Ship

1. Get an Instant Quote**

Enter the collection and delivery locations, actual weight and full packed dimensions.

Many standard air freight services can be compared online in seconds.

2. Choose the Right Service**

Select:

• express air freight for the fastest transit;
• standard air freight for a more cost-effective option;
• an airport-based service where suitable and available.

3. Prepare the Goods**

Pack the goods securely and compactly, protect fragile sections, label clearly, and measure the fully packed shipment so the chargeable weight is accurate.

4. Confirm the Requirements**

Check whether the shipment needs:

• customs documents;
• licences or certificates;
• insurance;
• special handling;
• dangerous-goods review;
• destination-clearance arrangements;
• forklift or other loading equipment.

5. Book Collection**

Once the booking is confirmed, collection is arranged according to the selected service.

6. Track the Shipment**

Tracking is available on most air freight services, with further updates available on request where supported.

7. Delivery

The shipment is delivered to the final address or agreed destination airport, depending on the selected service.

Delivery remains subject to:

• customs clearance;
• service terms;
• local access;
• receiver availability;
• payment of any destination charges.

How Should Goods Be Packed for Air Freight?

Air freight usually spends less time in transit than sea freight, but shipments still pass through collection, security screening, airport handling, loading, unloading, customs processing and final delivery.

Goods must therefore be packed securely for repeated handling while remaining as compact as is safely possible.

• Use strong outer packaging suited to the weight and contents
• Protect fragile goods, corners and vulnerable sections
• Secure the contents so they cannot move inside the packaging
• Remove unnecessary void space
• Keep palletised goods stable and within the pallet footprint where possible
• Strap and wrap palletised freight securely
• Label every piece clearly
• Measure the shipment only after it is fully packed
• Include pallets, wrapping and protrusions in the dimensions
• Declare the correct packed weight

For palletised air freight moving between Great Britain and destinations where wood-packaging rules apply, applicable solid wood pallets, crates and dunnage must meet ISPM-15 requirements and carry a clear, legible mark. Processed wood packaging such as plywood and fibreboard is generally exempt.

For practical packing guidance, see our How to Prepare a Pallet guide.

What Customs Documents Are Needed for Air Freight?

International air freight normally requires customs documents for export and import.

Air freight moving solely within Great Britain usually does not require customs documentation. Movements involving Northern Ireland can have different customs and regulatory requirements depending on the goods, route and circumstances.

You may need:

• a Commercial Invoice containing clear goods descriptions and values;
• accurate HS or Commodity Codes;
• EORI details for commercial exporters and importers, where required;
• agreed Incoterms confirming responsibility for transport, clearance, duties and taxes;
• an Air Waybill or e-AWB, normally issued by or on behalf of the carrier or freight forwarder;
• packing lists for some multi-item consignments;
• product-specific licences or certificates;
• safety information for regulated or dangerous goods;
• a Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods where required.

A Commercial Invoice provides customs authorities with information used to assess the goods, controls, duties and taxes.

Incorrect descriptions, missing EORI details, wrong commodity codes, unclear Incoterms or incomplete documents can lead to:

• customs queries;
• inspections;
• airport storage;
• additional handling fees;
• clearance delays;
• return or refusal of the goods.