Air freight services
Air Freight Australia — When the Delivery Date Is Not Negotiable
Air freight costs more per kilogram and saves more per week. We use it deliberately: for launch stock, spare parts, samples, high-value goods and the shipments where being late costs more than flying.
In short
Air freight is priced on chargeable weight — the greater of actual or volumetric weight — and typically moves Asia to Australia in 2–7 days. It wins when the cost of being late exceeds the freight premium. We manage airport-to-airport, express and consolidated air cargo as part of end-to-end international logistics management, including clearance and final delivery.
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Air cargo, priced honestly
Air freight into and out of Australian gateways
We move air cargo through Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide, using consolidated, direct and express services depending on how much of the transit you need to buy back. Customs clearance and delivery are included, so the shipment does not stop at the airport.
The honest advice on air freight is that most importers use it slightly too often and slightly too late. Used well, it is a precision tool — a partial air shipment to hold a launch date while the balance follows by sea is frequently cheaper than air freighting the whole order or discounting a missed season.
Air freight service levels
- Consolidated air freight: the most economical option, with cargo consolidated onto scheduled services. Typically four to seven days airport to airport.
- Direct air freight: booked on a specific flight for faster, more predictable transit, usually two to four days.
- Express and next-flight-out: for genuine emergencies such as a production line down or a spare part holding up a site.
- Charter: for outsized, urgent or very large consignments where scheduled capacity is unavailable.
- Sea-air combinations: ocean to a transhipment hub then air into Australia, sitting between the two on both cost and speed.
Chargeable weight
How air freight is priced — and why your quote seems heavier than your cargo
Airlines charge on chargeable weight, which is the greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight. Volumetric weight for air freight is normally calculated by dividing the volume in cubic centimetres by 6,000, which is equivalent to treating one cubic metre as 167 kilograms.
| Shipment | Actual weight | Volume | Volumetric weight | Chargeable weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dense machine parts | 480 kg | 1.2 cbm | 200 kg | 480 kg — charged on actual weight |
| Boxed consumer goods | 120 kg | 2.0 cbm | 334 kg | 334 kg — charged on volume |
| Textiles and apparel | 90 kg | 3.5 cbm | 585 kg | 585 kg — charged on volume |
| Spare parts, small carton | 18 kg | 0.05 cbm | 8 kg | 18 kg — charged on actual weight |
The practical consequence is that air freight rewards efficient packing far more than sea freight does. Removing void space, using right-sized cartons and avoiding oversized pallet bases can cut an air freight bill substantially. We will review your packing before booking if you send us the carton dimensions.
For a broader breakdown of how freight is priced across modes, see freight costs explained.
Sea or air
When air freight is the right decision
Air freight is worth paying for when the cost of delay is higher than the freight premium. That calculation is specific to your business, but these are the situations where it almost always stacks up.
| Situation | Why air wins |
|---|---|
| Production line or site is stopped | Downtime cost per day usually dwarfs any freight premium. |
| Launch, promotion or seasonal deadline | Missing the window can mean discounting the entire range. |
| High value per kilogram | Freight is a small percentage of goods value, and less capital is tied up in transit. |
| Samples and pre-production approvals | Speed here compresses your entire product timeline. |
| Small quantities | Below roughly one cubic metre, air is often competitive with LCL once port and handling charges are counted. |
| Perishable or short shelf life | Ocean transit consumes too much of the product life. |
| Stock-out risk on a core line | Lost sales and lost shelf space rarely come back cheaply. |
Where it does not stack up, we will say so and quote sea freight instead.
Process
How an air freight shipment runs
Booking and capacity check
We confirm space and a realistic flight plan. In peak season, honest capacity advice matters more than the rate.
Collection and origin handling
Pickup from your supplier, screening, security compliance and lodgement with the airline.
Documentation
Air waybill, commercial invoice, packing list and, where relevant, dangerous goods declaration and origin documents.
Flight and transit
Airport to airport, with tracking and notification of any re-routing or offload.
Clearance on arrival
Entry lodged so clearance happens while the cargo is being broken down, not afterwards.
Delivery
Airport to your door anywhere in Australia, including same-day metro delivery for urgent consignments.
FAQ
Air freight questions
How much does air freight to Australia cost?
Air freight is quoted per chargeable kilogram, with rates varying by lane, service level and season. There is also a floor: small consignments attract minimum charges plus airport handling, customs entry and delivery, so a five kilogram carton is never simply five times a one kilogram rate. Send weights and dimensions and we will quote precisely.
How long does air freight take from Asia to Australia?
Consolidated services typically run four to seven days airport to airport. Direct services are two to four days. Express and next-flight-out options can be faster. Add clearance and delivery, and a realistic door-to-door figure is three to nine days depending on service level.
Is air freight worth it for a small shipment?
Often yes. Below about one cubic metre, LCL sea freight starts to lose its advantage because port charges, terminal handling and deconsolidation fees are largely fixed. We will compare both for you rather than assume.
What cannot be sent by air freight?
Airlines apply strict rules to dangerous goods, including lithium batteries, aerosols, flammable liquids, magnets and certain chemicals. Many of these can still fly with correct classification, packing and declarations. Tell us what is in the shipment and we will confirm what is possible.
Do I still need customs clearance for air freight?
Yes. The same import declaration, duty, GST and biosecurity requirements apply regardless of mode. We handle it — see customs clearance.
Can I split a shipment between air and sea?
Yes, and it is one of the most underused tactics in importing. Air freight the critical portion to hold your date and send the balance by sea. We will model the cost of both against the cost of being late.
Read next
More on air freight and urgent cargo
Related guides and services covering the questions importers and exporters usually ask next.
- Commercial imports — the full inbound program including urgent replenishment
- Medical and life sciences freight — cold chain, dry ice and shock-sensitive instruments
- Mining freight — breakdown parts to remote sites, and why the flight is the easy part
- Trade route guides — air gateways and transit times by market
- Freight planning — when air freight is the rational choice rather than the expensive one
Need it there this week?
Send the weights and dimensions, or call us. We will confirm capacity, cost and the earliest realistic delivery date.
Air freight through Brisbane Airport
For urgent cargo into South East Queensland, our Brisbane air freight page sets out realistic transit times, chargeable weight worked examples and what can genuinely be achieved on a same-day cut-off.