Air freight to and from Germany
Air cargo from China, India and Pakistan into German airports, and exports from Germany worldwide. For shipments that can’t wait for a ship.
When air freight makes sense
Air costs several times more per kilo than sea, so it has to earn its place. It usually does in three situations.
- The goods are urgent: a production line is waiting, a launch date is fixed, or stock has run out.
- The goods are valuable relative to their weight, such as electronics or spare parts, so freight is a small share of the total.
- The shipment is light and small, where the gap to an LCL sea shipment narrows.
Some importers split an order: a first batch by air to cover demand, the rest by sea freight to Hamburg.
How chargeable weight works
Airlines charge for space as well as weight. For every shipment two figures are compared: the actual gross weight and the volumetric weight. The higher one is the chargeable weight.
The IATA formula for volumetric weight is length x width x height in centimetres, divided by 6,000. The result is in kilograms.
A worked example
You ship four cartons, each 60 x 50 x 40 cm and 15 kg. The actual weight is 60 kg. One carton has a volumetric weight of 60 x 50 x 40 = 120,000, divided by 6,000 = 20 kg, so the four together come to 80 kg. The chargeable weight is 80 kg, not 60. Tighter packing lowers the bill.
Direct or consolidated
Direct air freight
Your shipment is booked with the airline on its own air waybill and flies on the next suitable flight. The faster option, at a higher rate per kilo.
Consolidated air freight
Your cargo is combined with other shipments under one master air waybill, with a house air waybill for each shipper. It waits for the consolidation to close, so it takes longer and costs less.
Airports and typical timings
Most air cargo for Germany arrives at Frankfurt, the country’s largest cargo airport. We also use Leipzig/Halle, Munich and Hamburg, depending on where the goods are going. At origin we work with Shanghai Pudong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Karachi and Lahore.
- Direct, airport to airport
- Typically 2 to 4 days.
- Consolidated, airport to airport
- Typically 5 to 8 days.
- Door to door
- Varies. Add time for pickup, export clearance, import clearance and the truck to your address.
From the airport the goods continue by truck. See road freight in Germany and the EU.
What can and can’t fly
Dangerous goods travel by air only if they are declared, packed and labelled under the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR). That includes lithium batteries, whether shipped on their own, packed with a device or built into one. Aerosols, perfumes, paints and strong magnets also fall under the rules.
Some items cannot fly at all, damaged or recalled lithium batteries among them. Others are allowed only on cargo aircraft. Tell us exactly what is in the shipment and send the safety data sheet if there is one. We check before booking, because undeclared dangerous goods are stopped at the airport.
Documents for an air shipment
- Air waybill (AWB)
- The transport document and the receipt for the goods. It is not negotiable, so no original is needed for release.
- Commercial invoice
- Seller, buyer, goods description, value, currency and Incoterm.
- Packing list
- Number of pieces, with the weight and dimensions of each.
- ICS2 pre-loading data
- Safety and security data sent to EU customs before the goods are loaded on the aircraft. It needs an accurate goods description and the HS code.
From booking to delivery
Quote and booking
You send piece count, dimensions and weight. We work out the chargeable weight and book the flight.
Pickup and export clearance
The cargo is collected from the supplier, security screened and cleared for export at the origin airport.
Flight
We send you the air waybill number so you can follow the shipment.
Import clearance and delivery
We file the import declaration in Germany. Once customs releases the goods, a truck delivers them to your address.
How chargeable weight works
Example: 4 cartons of 60 x 50 x 40 cm, 12 kg each
length x width x height (cm) ÷ 6,000 = volumetric kgCharged: 80 kgThe higher of the two is charged.
Common questions about air freight
How do I calculate the chargeable weight?
Multiply length, width and height in centimetres, divide by 6,000 and compare the result with the actual weight in kilograms. The higher figure is charged.
Can I ship products with lithium batteries?
Usually yes, if they are declared and packed under the IATA DGR. We need the battery type, the watt-hour rating and the safety data sheet before booking.
Is there a minimum shipment size?
There is no minimum weight, but airlines apply a minimum charge per shipment.
Who clears the goods through customs in Germany?
We can, as part of the shipment or as a separate job. See customs clearance in Germany.
Can you ship DDP to my buyer in Germany?
Yes. For exporters in Asia we arrange DDP (delivered duty paid) shipments, where the seller covers freight, import duty and import VAT.
Get an air freight quote
Send us the origin airport, the number of pieces and the dimensions and weight of each. We reply within 24 business hours with an itemised quote.
Request a quote