Priority air
Guaranteed uplift on the first available flight. For launch stock, retail windows, and anything where the shelf is already empty.
Last reviewed
Solutions · Air freight
Air freight from China when the cost of waiting beats the cost of flying.
Priority, economy, and consolidated air cargo from Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. We price against your stockout date rather than against the ocean rate, because that is the comparison that actually decides the mode.
3–7 daysdoor-to-door range
4origin gateways
DG reviewbatteries screened
24hquote turnaround
Service levels
Three air products, three different reasons to use them.
The rate gap between priority and economy is often smaller than the cost of the days it buys back. We show both against your date.
Economy air
Consolidated space at a lower rate with a slightly longer routing. The sensible default for planned air replenishment.
Door-to-door air
Pickup, uplift, customs, and final-mile delivery as a single service with one owner and one price.
Where air wins
Air freight is an inventory decision wearing a freight label.
The question is never whether air costs more per kilo. It is whether the days it saves are worth more than the difference.
Launch stock
Samples, first production runs, and retail launch inventory that has to land before the selling window opens.
High value density
Electronics and precision goods where freight is a small fraction of unit value and exposure time is a risk.
Stockout bridge
A right-sized top-up to cover a gap, while the planned ocean cadence continues underneath it.
Line-down parts
A single component holding up production or commissioning, split away from the main shipment.
Air freight intake
What an accurate air quote needs.
Air prices on chargeable weight, and chargeable weight comes from carton dimensions rather than the scale. These are the inputs that keep a quote from moving after collection.
| Input | Used for | State |
|---|---|---|
| Carton dimensions and count | Volumetric weight, which usually beats gross weight on air | Critical |
| Gross weight | The other half of the chargeable weight comparison | Needed |
| Product description | HS classification and dangerous-goods screening | Needed |
| Battery content | Carrier acceptance, packing declaration, UN38.3 and SDS | Needed |
| Ready date and required date | Service level selection and flight booking | Needed |
| Destination and consignee | Customs entry and final-mile delivery | Needed |
How it works
Four handoffs on one air waybill.
01 — Prepare
Confirm cargo and cutoff
Dimensions, batteries, classification, and the receiving window are checked against the flight cutoff before space is booked.
02 — Collect
Pickup and consolidate
Cartons are collected, weighed, measured, photographed, and matched to the commercial invoice at the origin warehouse.
03 — Fly
Uplift and track
Flight milestones and customs status sit in one thread. If the cargo rolls to a later flight, you hear it from us.
04 — Deliver
Clear and hand over
Destination clearance, duty, and final-mile delivery to your warehouse, 3PL, or fulfilment centre.
FAQ
Air freight from China FAQ
Transit ranges, chargeable weight, batteries, and when express is the better buy.
How long does air freight from China take?
Airport to airport is commonly 3–5 days on priority services and 5–8 days on economy. Door to door — including pickup, export handling, customs, and final-mile delivery — usually runs 7–12 days. The variable that moves it most is not the flight but the customs and delivery leg at destination.
How is air freight priced from China?
On chargeable weight, which is the greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight calculated from carton dimensions. Light, bulky cargo almost always prices on volume, which is why an air quote given without your carton dimensions is unreliable. We recalculate from measured cartons at intake so the number does not move after collection.
Can you ship lithium batteries by air from China?
Often, but never automatically. Acceptance depends on chemistry, watt-hour rating, state of charge, packing relationship, labelling, and the individual carrier's current policy. Send the battery details with the enquiry and we will confirm the workable route before booking rather than discovering the problem at the airport.
Which Chinese airports do you ship from?
Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong for South China cargo, and Shanghai for the Yangtze River Delta. Hong Kong frequently offers wider carrier choice and capacity for dangerous goods, and we will route through it where that makes the shipment cheaper or possible at all.
What is the difference between air freight and express courier?
Express is an integrated door-to-door product from DHL, FedEx, or UPS with one tracking number and simplified customs, which suits parcels and samples. Air freight is booked on an air waybill with separate handling and customs, and becomes cheaper per kilo as the shipment grows. The crossover typically sits somewhere around a few hundred kilos, and we price both when a shipment is near it.
Air freight quote
Get priority and economy air compared in 24 hours.
Send the carton dimensions, weight, destination, and the date the cargo has to land. One agent replies with both service levels priced and the customs handoff spelled out.
Get priority and economy air compared in 24 hours.
Send the carton dimensions, weight, destination, and the date the cargo has to land. One agent replies with both service levels priced and the customs handoff spelled out.