Air freight for time-critical shipments, airport to airport or door to door. Booking, AWB and paperwork preparation, customs support and cargo tracking handled in one place by Konsol Logistics.
Air freight carries time-critical shipments by aircraft, from airport to airport or from door to door, and it is markedly faster than sea or road. It suits urgent production parts, samples, documents and high-value goods. Konsol Logistics handles booking, AWB and paperwork preparation, operational support through customs and cargo tracking through a single account representative.
Air freight is the expensive mode, and there is no point hiding it; on the right cargo it pays for itself. The rule is simple: if waiting costs your cargo more than transport does, air makes sense. Otherwise sea or road stays more balanced. For bulky, low-value, non-urgent cargo, the air freight bill can exceed the value of the goods, so look at the cargo first and choose the mode second. The four groups below are the ones that truly suit the air.
A stopped line, a broken machine or a delivery promised to a customer is managed in minutes, not hours. Small but critical parts are the best fit for air. Whether you make the flight often depends less on the aircraft than on having the part number and paperwork ready.
Samples sent before an order, trade-fair materials and prototypes are time-sensitive. Trade-fair goods may need a temporary import regime or an ATA carnet; this varies with the product and destination, so settle the plan with your customs broker early.
Original documents, delicate electronics and valuable products favour the air for its short transit and limited handling. Decide on insurance before loading for shipments like these.
For fresh produce, flowers and temperature-sensitive materials, a short transit is a big advantage. State the required temperature range and holding conditions at booking; cold-chain needs cannot be added afterwards.
On an aircraft it is not only weight that is limited, but space too, so two weights are calculated. Actual (gross) weight comes from the scale. Volumetric weight comes from the carton dimensions: length × width × height in centimetres, divided by 6000. That divisor is the common standard in air cargo, though some express services use a different one. The larger of the two becomes the chargeable weight.
Take a light carton measuring 100 × 60 × 50 cm: 300000 divided by 6000 gives a volumetric weight of 50 kg. Even if it weighs 20 kg on the scale, the charge is based on 50 kg. For light but large cartons, then, packaging size drives the freight more than weight does. Cutting empty space and sizing the carton to the product lowers cost directly. When you compare quotes, ask which weight was used and which divisor, so that different offers rest on the same footing.
Expert note: Measure and weigh your cartons in their packed state before asking for a quote, and report the packed dimensions, not the product's. The airport measures again, and any difference flows into the charge.
Speed alone is not enough; who organises what between the pickup address and the delivery point also decides the total time.
The cargo is received at the departure airport and left at the arrival airport. Getting it to the airport, export formalities, import clearance and final delivery stay with the parties concerned. It is an economical choice for shippers who have their own customs broker and carrier.
From the pickup point to the consignee's address, the whole chain is planned by one hand. Konsol Logistics organises the road leg and the air leg together through its partner network. A single contact reduces the coordination load; still, have the quote state in writing which costs are included.
Combinations such as door to airport or airport to door are possible too. For example, the shipper has the cargo collected from its address and delivers it at the airport, while the consignee uses its own customs and distribution set-up at arrival. This choice should be considered together with Incoterms.
The AWB (Air Waybill) is the proof of the contract of carriage, the receipt showing the cargo was accepted, and the source of the tracking number. Unlike a sea B/L, it is not a transferable document of title; the cargo is delivered to the consignee named on the AWB, not to whoever holds the paper. On consolidated shipments you usually see two documents: the master AWB (MAWB) issued by the airline and the house AWB (HAWB) issued by the consolidator.
| AWB field | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Shipper and consignee details | If the address or phone is wrong, cargo can sit waiting at arrival |
| Departure and arrival airports | Routing and pricing depend on it |
| Piece count and gross weight | A mismatch with the scale result forces a correction |
| Chargeable weight | The basis of the freight calculation |
| Cargo description and HS code | Must agree with the commercial invoice and customs declaration |
| Special handling notes | Carry temperature, fragile or dangerous goods information |
Mistakes on the AWB corrected after the flight cost both time and money, so review the draft before the cargo is handed over at the airport.
Most cargo that is rejected or held at the airport acceptance point went wrong on one of three things.
In the air, cargo faces impact, vibration and changes in temperature and pressure, and cartons may be stacked on one another during loading. A sturdy carton, enough inner padding for delicate goods and solid taping are the basics.
Every carton should show the consignee's name and address and the shipper's details clearly. Remove old labels and apply new ones where they are visible; on multi-carton shipments, number the pieces as 1/3, 2/3, 3/3 so that a missing or mixed-up piece is noticed at once.
Lithium batteries, aerosols, flammable liquids and some chemicals can count as dangerous goods. For these, IATA DGR rules require classification, packaging, marking and a shipper's declaration. Undeclared dangerous goods are both prohibited and a serious risk; if you are unsure, notify us in advance with the safety data sheet. Not every airline accepts every product.
Even as a fast mode, air freight has its own order of work. When the steps follow in sequence, the cargo makes the flight.
On an urgent cargo, one missing item means a missed flight. Prepare along this list.
Expert note: On urgent shipments the most frequent hitch is a missing invoice or a wrong consignee address. Going through the document set with your account representative before the vehicle leaves cuts the risk of a missed flight considerably.
If you know the packed dimensions, gross weight and the departure and arrival points, you can start the quote process right away. The Quick Quote form checks the details you enter and prepares a ready-made WhatsApp message; you send it yourself, and your account representative replies one to one. Konsol Logistics is at your side as you decide the right way to move your cargo for its urgency.
Multiply the carton dimensions in centimetres (length × width × height) and divide the result by 6000, the common standard in air cargo. The figure is the volumetric weight in kilograms. It is compared with the actual weight, and the larger becomes the chargeable weight.
The AWB (Air Waybill) is the document issued in air carriage that proves the contract of carriage and serves as a receipt that the cargo was accepted. Unlike a sea B/L, it is not a transferable document of title. The cargo is delivered to the consignee named on the AWB.
Lithium batteries, aerosols, flammable liquids and some chemicals can be dangerous goods under IATA DGR. They need special packaging, marking and a declaration, and some items the carrier may not accept at all. Restrictions vary by product and country, so declare before booking.
With airport to airport, carriage covers only the two airports; pickup, clearance and final delivery are for you or the consignee. With door to door, the whole chain from collection to the consignee's address is planned by one hand. Which suits you depends on whether you have your own customs and transport set-up.
With the AWB number, the flight and arrival status of the shipment can be followed. Konsol Logistics carries out cargo tracking and keeps you informed of developments at regular intervals. For any questions, speak one to one with your account representative.
The departure and arrival points, cargo type, gross weight, packed dimensions and urgency are the basics. If there are dangerous goods or temperature sensitivity, include that as well. Enter this information in the Quick Quote form to start your request.
Konsol Logistics is an international logistics and freight company based in Konya. It organizes road, sea, air, part-load, project and cross-trade shipments, and supports customers with planning, document routing and cargo tracking.
Transport is carried out through partners and agents. The scope of the service becomes clear at the quotation stage, depending on your cargo, your route and the mode you prefer.
Volumetric weight is found by multiplying the carton dimensions in centimetres (length × width × height) and dividing by 6000, the common standard in air cargo. This value is compared with the actual weight, and the greater of the two becomes the chargeable weight.
For light but large cartons, the size of the packaging determines the freight more than the weight does. Preparing the product in the smallest packaging that fits it cuts the cost directly, so give the packed dimensions for the quote.
The AWB (Air Waybill) is the document issued in air freight; it evidences the contract of carriage, shows that the cargo has been received and is the source of the tracking number. It differs from the B/L in sea freight in that it is not a transferable document of title, and the cargo is delivered to the consignee named on the AWB.
Review the draft before the cargo is delivered to the airport, because a correction made after the flight costs both time and money.
Air freight makes sense when the cost of the cargo waiting is higher than the cost of transport. Urgent production parts, samples and prototypes, documents, high-value products, and perishable or temperature-sensitive goods are typical examples. Air is a fast mode, but an expensive one.
Before deciding, weigh the urgency, the value and the volume of the cargo together, and ask for quotes for different modes if needed.
In air freight, packaging must withstand shock, vibration, and changes in temperature and pressure, and the consignee and shipper details must be clearly legible on every package. For multi-piece shipments, numbering the pieces 1/3, 2/3, 3/3 and so on immediately reveals a missing or mixed-up piece.
Most cargo held at the airport acceptance point is held because of a gap in the packaging, the label or the dangerous goods declaration.
Products such as lithium batteries, aerosols, flammable liquids and some chemicals can count as dangerous goods under IATA DGR. These products require special classification, packaging, marking and declaration, and some may not be accepted by the carrier at all.
Konsol Logistics guides you on early notification for products that may fall under IATA DGR. If a product contains batteries, liquids or aerosols, say so before booking; confirmation from the carrier and the relevant authorities is needed for the current rules.
Detailed guide pages on the topics most often asked about together with this service.
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