Transit days are pickup-to-airport-of-arrival. Door-to-door adds 1–3 days for trucking and clearance.
| Origin | Destination | Express | Standard | Lane notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai (PVG) | Los Angeles (LAX) | 3–4 days | 5–7 days | Daily direct freighters |
| Hong Kong (HKG) | Los Angeles (LAX) | 3–4 days | 5–7 days | DG-capable, batteries OK |
| Hong Kong (HKG) | New York (JFK) | 4–5 days | 6–8 days | Direct freighter |
| Guangzhou (CAN) | Chicago (ORD) | 4–5 days | 6–8 days | Cargo-class belly + freighter |
| Beijing (PEK) | Frankfurt (FRA) | 3–4 days | 5–7 days | Daily direct |
| Shanghai (PVG) | Amsterdam (AMS) | 4–5 days | 5–8 days | Direct passenger belly |
| Hong Kong (HKG) | London (LHR) | 4–5 days | 5–8 days | Daily direct |
For launches, samples, peak-season FBA replenishment, and any cargo with a hard delivery date. Premium space on direct freighters, priority handling at both ends.
For mid-value, time-sensitive but not time-critical. Lower rate, slightly longer transit, still much faster than ocean.
Lithium ion, lithium metal, MSDS-listed cargo, magnetized goods — handled with the correct UN packaging, paperwork and carrier match.
Air freight only works if the ground-side moves at the same speed. We pre-clear, pre-book trucking, and pre-position docs so cargo doesn't sit at the airport once it lands.
The most common restricted-cargo questions we get on quote requests.
| Cargo type | Status | Requirements | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lithium-ion battery (UN3480) | ✓ Ships | MSDS, UN38.3 test, IATA packaging | Cargo flight only; restricted on passenger |
| Lithium battery in equipment (UN3481) | ✓ Ships | MSDS, marked packaging | Easier than standalone |
| Magnetized material | ✓ Ships | Field strength declaration | Below 0.00525 gauss at 4.6m |
| Aerosols, flammable liquids | ✓ Ships | MSDS, IATA Class 2/3 paperwork | Carrier-specific limits |
| Power banks | ✓ Limited | Wh rating declaration | Cargo aircraft only |
| Liquids over 1L (non-DG) | ✓ Ships | Leak-proof packaging | Standard cargo handling |
| Explosives, radioactives (Class 1, 7) | ✗ Decline | — | Refer to specialist carrier |
| Live animals | ✗ Decline | — | Refer to live-cargo specialist |
Air freight charges the greater of actual or volumetric weight. Knowing the rule prevents surprise invoices.
L × W × H (cm) ÷ 6000 = volumetric kg
Example: 60 × 50 × 50 cm = 25 volumetric kg
Max dim per piece: 318 × 224 × 162 cm
Max single-piece weight: 5,000 kg (main deck loader required)
Cargo loose-loaded or palletized (PMC, PAG, LD3)
We handle palletization at origin; you save space and reduce damage
Rule of thumb: if a sea shipment would land 2+ weeks after your stock-out date, the air premium usually pays back in margin or sales saved. We can model the trade-off for your specific SKU.
For straight cargo on a direct lane: brief on Monday, in the air by Wednesday. For DG / batteries: add 1–2 days for paperwork.
Express is priority space on direct freighters with guaranteed boarding. Standard is mainline + belly capacity, subject to the next available slot. Express is ~30–60% more on a per-kg basis.
Yes — if cargo volume exceeds aircraft capacity, we'll book consecutive flights and consolidate at destination. We'll flag the trade-off in the quote.
Both. Default is door-to-door (factory → final delivery). If you have your own US customs broker and last-mile, airport-to-airport works.
Tell us origin city, destination city, weight, dimensions and target ship date.
