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 a pena o transporte aéreo?

Se o transporte aéreo “vale a pena” depende do equilíbrio entre custo e benefício para as suas necessidades específicas. As tarifas de frete aéreo são mais altas, mas o serviço é extremamente rápido e confiável. Em geral, o investimento compensa quando a velocidade gera valor: 

  • Remessas urgentes: se a carga precisar chegar em poucos dias (por exemplo, uma peça de máquina essencial para evitar a paralisação de uma fábrica ou produtos perecíveis que poderiam estragar em caso de atraso), o custo do frete aéreo se justifica por evitar prejuízos muito maiores causados por falta de estoque ou deterioração. O tempo de trânsito reduzido pode gerar economia no quadro geral, garantindo o cumprimento de prazos críticos.
  • Produtos de alto valor: para mercadorias com alto valor em relação ao peso, o custo adicional do transporte aéreo representa apenas uma pequena fração do valor total. Uma referência comum é que o frete aéreo vale a pena quando o custo do envio fica abaixo de cerca de 15 a 20% do valor da carga. Nesses casos, a segurança e a rápida renovação do estoque proporcionadas pelo transporte aéreo compensam o investimento. Enviar eletrônicos de consumo ou artigos de moda por via aérea, por exemplo, pode garantir o aproveitamento de uma janela de mercado ou evitar a desvalorização do estoque.
  • Eficiência na cadeia de fornecimento: o transporte aéreo reduz a necessidade de manter grandes volumes de estoque, já que a reposição é muito mais ágil. Se o custo de armazenagem for elevado, investir em transporte aéreo para permitir entregas just-in-time pode valer a pena. Além disso, essa flexibilidade ajuda startups e varejistas a responder rapidamente às mudanças de demanda sem correr o risco de superestocar, o que muitas vezes compensa o custo adicional do frete.

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