How much does air freight cost per kg?

Air freight costs vary greatly by route, weight and service: Standard air freight approx. EUR 2–8/kg, Express (24–48h) approx. EUR 5–15/kg, Same Day / NFO approx. EUR 10–30/kg. Additional charges include fuel surcharge (FSC), security surcharge (SSC) and customs clearance. Chargeable weight (volumetric weight: L×W×H/6000 vs. actual weight) determines billing.

What is an AWB (Air Waybill)?

An AWB (Air Waybill) is the key document in air freight. It acts as a contract of carriage, receipt, and tracking document. Unlike the Bill of Lading (sea freight), the AWB is non-negotiable. The MAWB (Master AWB) is issued by the airline, the HAWB (House AWB) by the freight forwarder. The 11-digit AWB number enables worldwide real-time tracking.

How is chargeable weight calculated?

Chargeable weight in air freight is the greater of: actual gross weight (kg) vs. volumetric weight (cm³ / 6,000). Example: A shipment 80×60×50 cm has volumetric weight 80×60×50/6000 = 40 kg. If actual weight is only 25 kg, billing is at 40 kg (chargeable weight). Courier services often use divisor 5,000.

What is the difference between express and standard air freight?

Standard air freight (Economy Air): 3–5 business days, cheapest option, space subject to availability. Express (24–48h): prioritised space on direct flights. Same Day / NFO (Next Flight Out): next available flight, 6–24h. AOG (Aircraft on Ground): emergency service for aircraft parts, 2–6h. Hand Carry: human courier personally accompanies the shipment.

What is IATA Dangerous Goods (DGR) in air freight?

IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) govern the air transport of hazardous materials. There are 9 classes (explosives, gases, flammables, solids, oxidisers, toxic, radioactive, corrosive, miscellaneous). Shippers must complete a Shipper's Declaration, use approved packaging and apply specific markings. IATA DGR regulations are stricter than ADR (road) or IMDG (sea).

What is a charter flight in air freight?

An air freight charter means the exclusive booking of an entire cargo aircraft (full freighter). Charter types: Ad-hoc charter (single flight), ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance – wet lease), Time Charter (long-term rental). Suitable for shipments from approximately 30–50 tonnes, time-critical express deliveries or destinations with no regular scheduled service. Full freighter types: Boeing 747F (approx. 110t), B777F (approx. 102t), MD-11F (approx. 90t).

How long does air freight from China to Europe take?

Air freight from China (e.g. Shanghai, Shenzhen) to Europe (Frankfurt, Amsterdam): Direct flight 11–13 hours flight time. Including pre-carriage, handling at origin airport and customs clearance at destination airport, door-to-door time is typically 3–5 business days for standard express. Same Day or NFO can be delivered within 24–36h. Economy Air takes 5–7 business days.

What documents do I need for air freight?

Mandatory documents for international air freight: 1) AWB (Air Waybill), 2) Commercial Invoice with cargo value and HS code, 3) Packing List, 4) Export Customs Declaration (EXA/AES), 5) for dangerous goods: Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods (SDDG). Optional: Certificate of Origin, Phytosanitary Certificate, CITES permit for protected species. For letter of credit transactions: complete document set.

What are FSC and SSC in air freight?

FSC (Fuel Surcharge) varies weekly or monthly based on jet fuel prices, usually EUR 0.50–2.00/kg. SSC (Security Surcharge / Security and Cargo Screening) covers airport security screening measures, usually EUR 0.10–0.30/kg. Both surcharges are additional to the base rate and applied to chargeable weight. Other surcharges: SCC (screening), AMS (US pre-notification), PCA (Peak Congestion Add-on).

Can lithium batteries be sent by air freight?

Lithium batteries are IATA Dangerous Goods Class 9 (Miscellaneous dangerous substances). Lithium-ion batteries (UN 3480) and lithium metal batteries (UN 3090) may be shipped by air freight under strict conditions: state of charge maximum 30% for UN 3480, original packaging or UN-approved packaging, hazard label marking, Shipper's Declaration. Passenger aircraft have stricter quantity limits than cargo-only aircraft.

What is Belly Cargo vs. Full Freighter?

Belly Cargo: freight transported in the lower deck of a passenger aircraft. Cheaper option, dependent on passenger flight routes and capacities. Capacity of an A380: approx. 20–23t belly cargo. Full Freighter: Dedicated cargo aircraft (no passenger cabin). Higher capacity (Boeing 747F: approx. 110t), more route and schedule flexibility, ideal for heavy or bulky freight, dangerous goods and large charter volumes.

What is an AWB prefix?

The AWB prefix is a unique 3-digit number assigned to each IATA member airline. It forms the first 3 digits of the Air Waybill number. Example: 020-12345678 – the 020 identifies Lufthansa Cargo. The prefix immediately reveals which airline is carrying the freight.

What is an airline's IATA code?

The IATA code (also: airline designator) is a 2-letter code assigned to each airline by IATA. It is used in flight schedules, AWBs, booking systems (GDS) and cargo terminals. Examples: LH = Lufthansa, EK = Emirates, SQ = Singapore Airlines. Not to be confused with the ICAO airline designator (3 letters, e.g. DLH) or the AWB prefix (3-digit number). Four-letter ICAO codes are location indicators for airports (e.g. EDDF), not airline codes.

What exactly is the AWB number format?

An AWB number consists of 11 digits: [3-digit prefix]-[8-digit shipment number]. Example: 020-12345678. The first 3 digits (here: 020) identify the issuing airline (Lufthansa Cargo). The last 8 digits are the unique shipment number. The full 11-digit number is required for tracking with the airline or via the IATA Cargo Portal.

Difference between IATA code and AWB prefix?

IATA code: 2 letters, identifies the airline in flight schedules and booking systems (e.g. LH for Lufthansa). AWB prefix: 3 digits, identifies the airline on the air waybill (e.g. 020 for Lufthansa Cargo). Both codes are issued by IATA but serve different purposes and have no mathematical relationship.

Can I track a shipment using the AWB prefix?

Yes. From the AWB prefix you immediately know which airline is transporting the shipment. Then track directly on the airline's cargo website (e.g. lufthansa-cargo.com for prefix 020) or universally via the IATA Cargo Portal at cargo.iata.org. For House AWB numbers (HAWB), use your freight forwarder's tracking system.

Airline Codes – IATA & ICAO Carrier Codes

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Airline	IATA	AWB Prefix	Country	Hub	Type:
ABX Air	`GB`	`832`	United States	`ILN`	Freighter
AeroLogic	`3S`		Germany		Freighter
Air Canada Cargo	`AC`	`014`	Canada		Freighter
Air China Cargo	`CA`	`999`	China	`CTU`	Freighter
Air France Cargo	`AF`	`057`	France	`CDG`	Freighter
Air Transport International	`8C`		United States	`ILN`	Freighter
Amerijet International	`M6`	`810`	United States		Freighter
ANA Cargo	`NH`	`205`	Japan		Freighter
Atlas Air	`5Y`	`369`	United States	`JFK`	Freighter
Austrian Airlines Cargo	`OS`		Austria	`VIE`	Passenger + Cargo
Brussels Airlines Cargo	`SN`		Belgium	`BRU`	Passenger + Cargo
Cargojet	`W8`	`489`	Canada		Freighter
Cargolux	`CV`	`172`	Luxembourg	`CGO`	Freighter
Cargolux Italia	`C8`	`356`	Italy		Freighter
Cathay Cargo	`CX`	`160`	Hong Kong SAR China	`HKG`	Freighter
China Airlines Cargo	`CI`	`297`	Taiwan	`TPE`	Freighter
China Cargo Airlines	`CK`	`112`	China	`CKG`	Freighter
China Southern Cargo	`CZ`		China	`SZX`	Freighter
Emirates SkyCargo	`EK`	`176`	United Arab Emirates	`DXB`	Freighter
Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services	`ET`	`071`	Ethiopia	`ADD`	Freighter
Etihad Cargo	`EY`	`607`	United Arab Emirates	`AUH`	Freighter
European Air Transport Leipzig	`QY`	`615`	Germany	`LEJ`	Freighter
EVA Air Cargo	`BR`	`695`	Taiwan	`TPE`	Freighter
FedEx Express	`FX`	`023`	United States	`CDG`	Integrator
Finnair Cargo	`AY`	`105`	Finland	`HEL`	Passenger + Cargo
IAG Cargo			United Kingdom	`LHR`	Passenger + Cargo
Iberia Cargo	`IB`	`075`	Spain	`MAD`	Passenger + Cargo
ITA Airways Cargo	`AZ`	`055`	Italy	`LIN`	Passenger + Cargo
Kalitta Air	`K4`	`272`	United States		Freighter
KLM Cargo	`KL`	`074`	Netherlands	`CDG`	Passenger + Cargo
Korean Air Cargo	`KE`	`180`	South Korea		Freighter
LATAM Cargo Chile	`UC`	`145`	Chile		Freighter
LOT Cargo	`LO`	`080`	Poland	`WAW`	Passenger + Cargo
Lufthansa Cargo	`LH`	`020`	Germany	`FCO`	Freighter
National Airlines	`N8`	`416`	United States		Freighter
Polar Air Cargo	`PO`	`403`	United States		Freighter
Qatar Airways Cargo	`QR`	`157`	Qatar		Freighter
SAS Cargo	`SK`	`117`	Denmark	`OSL`	Passenger + Cargo
Saudia Cargo	`SV`	`065`	Saudi Arabia	`DXB`	Freighter
SF Airlines	`O3`	`921`	China		Freighter
Silk Way West Airlines	`7L`	`501`	Azerbaijan	`GYD`	Freighter
Singapore Airlines Cargo	`SQ`	`618`	Singapore	`SIN`	Freighter
Swiss WorldCargo	`LX`	`724`	Switzerland	`GVA`	Passenger + Cargo
TAP Air Cargo	`TP`	`047`	Portugal	`LIS`	Passenger + Cargo
Turkish Cargo	`TK`	`235`	Türkiye	`IST`	Freighter
UPS Airlines	`5X`	`406`	United States		Integrator
Western Global Airlines	`KD`		United States	`BYH`	Freighter

Airline	IATA	AWB Prefix	Country	Hub	Type:
ABX Air	`GB`	`832`	United States	`ILN`	Freighter
AeroLogic	`3S`		Germany		Freighter
Air Canada Cargo	`AC`	`014`	Canada		Freighter
Air China Cargo	`CA`	`999`	China	`CTU`	Freighter
Air France Cargo	`AF`	`057`	France	`CDG`	Freighter
Air Transport International	`8C`		United States	`ILN`	Freighter
Amerijet International	`M6`	`810`	United States		Freighter
ANA Cargo	`NH`	`205`	Japan		Freighter
Atlas Air	`5Y`	`369`	United States	`JFK`	Freighter
Austrian Airlines Cargo	`OS`		Austria	`VIE`	Passenger + Cargo
Brussels Airlines Cargo	`SN`		Belgium	`BRU`	Passenger + Cargo
Cargojet	`W8`	`489`	Canada		Freighter
Cargolux	`CV`	`172`	Luxembourg	`CGO`	Freighter
Cargolux Italia	`C8`	`356`	Italy		Freighter
Cathay Cargo	`CX`	`160`	Hong Kong SAR China	`HKG`	Freighter
China Airlines Cargo	`CI`	`297`	Taiwan	`TPE`	Freighter
China Cargo Airlines	`CK`	`112`	China	`CKG`	Freighter
China Southern Cargo	`CZ`		China	`SZX`	Freighter
Emirates SkyCargo	`EK`	`176`	United Arab Emirates	`DXB`	Freighter
Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services	`ET`	`071`	Ethiopia	`ADD`	Freighter
Etihad Cargo	`EY`	`607`	United Arab Emirates	`AUH`	Freighter
European Air Transport Leipzig	`QY`	`615`	Germany	`LEJ`	Freighter
EVA Air Cargo	`BR`	`695`	Taiwan	`TPE`	Freighter
FedEx Express	`FX`	`023`	United States	`CDG`	Integrator
Finnair Cargo	`AY`	`105`	Finland	`HEL`	Passenger + Cargo
IAG Cargo			United Kingdom	`LHR`	Passenger + Cargo
Iberia Cargo	`IB`	`075`	Spain	`MAD`	Passenger + Cargo
ITA Airways Cargo	`AZ`	`055`	Italy	`LIN`	Passenger + Cargo
Kalitta Air	`K4`	`272`	United States		Freighter
KLM Cargo	`KL`	`074`	Netherlands	`CDG`	Passenger + Cargo
Korean Air Cargo	`KE`	`180`	South Korea		Freighter
LATAM Cargo Chile	`UC`	`145`	Chile		Freighter
LOT Cargo	`LO`	`080`	Poland	`WAW`	Passenger + Cargo
Lufthansa Cargo	`LH`	`020`	Germany	`FCO`	Freighter
National Airlines	`N8`	`416`	United States		Freighter
Polar Air Cargo	`PO`	`403`	United States		Freighter
Qatar Airways Cargo	`QR`	`157`	Qatar		Freighter
SAS Cargo	`SK`	`117`	Denmark	`OSL`	Passenger + Cargo
Saudia Cargo	`SV`	`065`	Saudi Arabia	`DXB`	Freighter
SF Airlines	`O3`	`921`	China		Freighter
Silk Way West Airlines	`7L`	`501`	Azerbaijan	`GYD`	Freighter
Singapore Airlines Cargo	`SQ`	`618`	Singapore	`SIN`	Freighter
Swiss WorldCargo	`LX`	`724`	Switzerland	`GVA`	Passenger + Cargo
TAP Air Cargo	`TP`	`047`	Portugal	`LIS`	Passenger + Cargo
Turkish Cargo	`TK`	`235`	Türkiye	`IST`	Freighter
UPS Airlines	`5X`	`406`	United States		Integrator
Western Global Airlines	`KD`		United States	`BYH`	Freighter

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