Air freight solution

Air freight pricing built around your shipment needs

What affects air freight rates?

Distance & trade lane

Rates vary based on shipment origin, destination, and capacity available on a specific trade lane. Longer routes and capacity-constrained lanes often have higher transportation costs.

Primary cost driver

Timeline & service level

The faster a shipment needs to move, the more pricing can increase. Selecting the right service—standard, premium, priority, or charter—helps balance speed, reliability, flexibility, and cost.

Primary cost driver

Market conditions

Supply and demand, available capacity, seasonal peaks, trade policy changes, fuel costs, and global events can all influence air freight pricing.

Moderate to high impact

Cargo specifications

Shipment dimensions, weight, commodity type, and handling requirements all influence pricing as specialized shipments may require additional planning or equipment.

Moderate to high impact

Are you using air freight as a strategic lever?

Compare air freight service levels

The examples below illustrate how pricing generally varies by service level.
Service tier Timeline Sample rate structure
Standard air Speed and reliability at economical rates $
Premium air Fast track your air freight for added flexibility $$
Priority air Put speed first for your essential shipments $$$
Charter air Move your critical air cargo on your schedule $$$$
 

Disclaimer: Rates shown are sample data provided for general illustration only and do not represent a quote or guarantee of service. Air freight pricing varies based on market conditions, lane, timing, and shipment requirements. 

What's included with air freight services?

  • Air transportation
  • Shipment tracking
  • Origin and destination handling
  • Shipment planning and coordination

Additional air service options

  • Warehousing/storage
    15–30% premium
  • Additional cargo insurance
    Quote-based
  • Customs support
    Quote-based
  • Expedited handling/premium routing
    25–50% premium
  • Temperature monitoring or data download
    Quote-based

Air freight pricing FAQs

Q: How much does air freight cost?

Air freight pricing varies based on shipment size, weight, origin and destination, service level, capacity availability, and delivery timeline. Because every shipment has unique requirements, rates can vary significantly from one lane or shipment type to another. Connect with an expert to receive pricing that reflects your specific transportation needs.

Q: Vale la pena il trasporto aereo?

Se la spedizione aerea "valga la pena" dipende dal bilanciamento tra costi e benefici per le vostre esigenze specifiche. Le tariffe del trasporto aereo sono elevate, ma il servizio è molto veloce e affidabile. In genere vale la spesa nei casi in cui il vantaggio della velocità crea valore: 

  • Spedizioni critiche dal punto di vista temporale: se la vostra spedizione deve assolutamente arrivare entro pochi giorni (ad esempio, un pezzo di macchina urgente per evitare un'interruzione della fabbrica o prodotti freschi deperibili che si rovinerebbero se in ritardo), il costo del trasporto aereo è giustificato dall'evitare una situazione di stockout o di deterioramento molto più costosa. Il trasporto rapido può far risparmiare denaro alla vostra azienda nel quadro più ampio rispettando una scadenza critica.
  • Merce di alto valore: Per i prodotti con un elevato valore in dollari rispetto al loro peso, il costo aggiuntivo della spedizione aerea può essere una piccola percentuale del valore dell'articolo. Una regola generale è che il trasporto aereo conviene se i costi di spedizione rimangono al di sotto del 15–20% del valore della merce. In questi casi, la sicurezza e la rapida rotazione delle scorte per via aerea possono valere la pena. Ad esempio, la spedizione aerea di elettronica di consumo o articoli di moda può garantirvi una finestra di mercato o evitare il deprezzamento delle scorte.
  • Efficienza della catena di fornitura: l'utilizzo del trasporto aereo può ridurre la necessità di tenere scorte di grandi dimensioni (poiché il rifornimento è più rapido). Se mantenere un inventario è molto costoso, potrebbe valere la pena pagare il trasporto aereo per consentire una consegna just-in-time. Può anche aiutare le startup e i rivenditori a reagire rapidamente alla domanda senza fare scorte eccessive, il che può superare i costi di trasporto.

Q: How far in advance should I book air freight?

Air freight can often be booked on short notice, but planning ahead typically provides access to more service options and pricing opportunities. As available capacity becomes limited, particularly during peak shipping periods or on high-demand trade lanes, last-minute shipments may have fewer routing options and higher transportation costs.

If your shipment timeline is flexible, booking in advance can help improve planning and provide greater access to standard or economy air freight services. For urgent shipments, expedited and charter options may still be available when timing is critical.

Q: Why do air freight rates change?

Air freight rates fluctuate based on market conditions. Capacity availability, seasonal demand, fuel costs, carrier networks, and global events can all influence pricing. As demand for air transportation increases or available capacity decreases, rates may rise until market conditions stabilize.

Q: Is premium or priority air freight worth the additional cost?

For many businesses, the decision is less about transportation cost and more about the cost of delay. Priority or premium air service may help avoid production downtime, inventory shortages, missed sales opportunities, customer service disruptions, or delayed product launches. When timing directly affects revenue or operations, faster transportation can help reduce larger business costs.

Q: Are charter air freight services more expensive than standard air freight?

Yes. Charter air freight typically costs more than standard scheduled air services because it provides dedicated aircraft capacity and greater schedule control. Charter solutions are often used for time-critical shipments, oversized cargo, emergency supply chain recovery situations, or freight that cannot move through traditional transportation networks.

Q: Can oversized or heavy cargo affect air freight pricing?

Yes. Shipment dimensions, weight, and handling requirements are important pricing factors. Oversized, heavy, or out-of-gauge cargo may require specialized equipment, dedicated freighter aircraft, or charter services, which can increase transportation costs. Shipment accessibility and loading requirements may also influence pricing.

Q: How can I reduce air freight costs?

Planning and booking ahead whenever possible can help provide access to more service options and pricing opportunities. Choosing the appropriate service level, consolidating shipments, and balancing speed requirements with transit expectations can all help manage transportation costs while maintaining reliability.

Let’s identify the right air solution and pricing option for your business