Air freight
Air Freight Indonesia — Import & Export
Air freight is the right answer when time costs more than freight does: buyer samples, production-stopping spare parts, high value-to-weight goods, and short shelf-life products. Typical door-to-door transit is 3–8 working days against 18–45 days by sea, at several times the cost per kilogram.
How air freight is priced
Air cargo is charged on whichever is greater: actual weight, or volumetric weight calculated as length × width × height in centimetres divided by 6,000. Light but bulky cargo therefore pays on its volume. This is the single most common reason an air freight invoice exceeds the estimate the shipper had in mind.
On top of the rate per chargeable kilogram sit documentation, airport handling, security screening, and customs clearance at both ends. We quote those separately so the comparison against sea freight is honest.
What cannot simply be put on a plane
Lithium batteries, strong magnets, aerosols, flammable liquids, powders, and many cosmetics fall under dangerous goods rules or passenger-aircraft restrictions. They are not impossible to move, but they must be declared, packed, and documented correctly — and screened before booking rather than discovered at the airport.
Send the product specification and the safety data sheet where one exists. We confirm the mode and packaging before quoting.
Scope
- Export and import air capacity through airline and consolidator partners
- Airport-to-airport or door-to-door delivery
- Air waybill issuance and supporting documentation
- High-value, urgent, and buyer-sample handling
- Customs clearance at the airport through a licensed partner broker
- Packing advice to keep volumetric weight below actual weight
Boundaries
- Dangerous goods move only when correctly declared and accepted by the carrier
- We do not carry goods without clear provenance documentation
- Destination duties and taxes sit outside the freight rate unless agreed in writing
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate air freight cost?
Volumetric weight = L × W × H in cm ÷ 6,000. Compare it with actual weight, take the greater as chargeable weight, multiply by the rate per kilogram, then add documentation, handling, and clearance.
How fast is air freight from Indonesia?
Asian destinations typically run 3–5 working days airport-to-airport and 5–8 door-to-door including clearance. Europe, the Middle East, and North America are usually one to three days longer depending on connections.
When does air freight beat sea freight?
When value per kilogram is high, when delay costs more than the freight differential, or when the volume is so small that LCL minimums and consolidation waiting time erase sea freight's advantage.
Can you ship batteries or liquid cosmetics by air?
It depends on the classification and packaging. Lithium batteries follow UN38.3 requirements and modal restrictions; liquids and aerosols are frequently refused on passenger aircraft. Send specifications and we will confirm before booking.
Have a shipment to price?
Send commodity, volume, and destination. You get a written breakdown by cost component, not a range.
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