What is air freight?
Air freight is the carriage of goods by aircraft — in the hold of passenger flights or on dedicated freighters — and it is the fastest way to move cargo internationally. It pays off when a delay would cost more than the freight itself: spare parts holding up a production line, samples awaiting a customer’s approval, high-value goods and shipments with a fixed delivery date.
Whether you are exporting from Türkiye (Turkey) or importing into it, we treat air freight as a door-to-door process rather than an airport-to-airport product. Collection from your premises, export formalities, airport acceptance, the flight, import clearance at destination and final delivery are all planned from one operations desk.
How does an air freight shipment work?
- Request and planning: send us the addresses, number of pieces, dimensions, gross weight and type of goods through the quote form, by phone or on WhatsApp; we plan a suitable flight option and the total transit time.
- Collection and preparation: the cargo is collected from your premises and we check that packaging, labels and marks are fit for air transport.
- Documents and export formalities: the commercial invoice, packing list and air waybill (AWB) are prepared; the export declaration and any documents the destination requires are planned before the goods leave.
- Airport acceptance and security: all air cargo goes through security controls before it flies, and the shipment reaches the airport in time for the planned flight’s acceptance cut-off.
- Flight and tracking: the flight and any connections are monitored, and you receive electronic updates on your shipment’s status.
- Arrival and delivery: import clearance at destination is coordinated through our partner and agency network, and the goods are delivered to the consignee’s door.
What ships by air?
- Urgent spare parts and production inputs: when the cost of a stopped line dwarfs the difference in freight.
- Samples and prototypes: when a customer approval or a tender deadline is waiting.
- High-value goods: for electronics, medical devices and similar products, a short transit time cuts the risk in transit and the cost of stock on the move.
- Retail and e-commerce stock: for urgent replenishment at the start of a season or during a campaign.
- Dangerous goods: chemicals, products containing lithium batteries and similar cargo, provided they are prepared to the rules (see below).
For heavy, bulky or non-urgent cargo, sea freight is usually far more economical. For many European destinations, express minivan and lorry van transport is a strong alternative to flying.
Air freight vs express road vs sea freight
| Factor | Air freight | Express road | Sea freight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | Fastest, especially to distant destinations | Can come close to air on total time within Europe | Slowest; for planned shipments |
| Cost | Highest per kilogram | Mid-range | Lowest per tonne |
| Charged on | Chargeable weight (actual or volumetric) | The dedicated vehicle and the route | Container (FCL) or m³/tonne (LCL) |
| Best for | Urgent, high-value, light to medium-weight cargo | Urgent European shipments of a few pallets | Heavy, bulky, non-urgent cargo |
How is air freight priced?
Air freight is charged on chargeable weight. The shipment’s actual (gross) weight is compared with its volumetric weight, and whichever is greater is used for the rate. Volumetric weight is usually calculated by multiplying length × width × height in centimetres and dividing by 6,000 — in other words, one cubic metre counts as roughly 167 kg. A 100 × 80 × 60 cm carton weighing 50 kg would therefore be charged at about 80 kg.
Other factors that shape the rate:
- Origin and destination, and whether a direct or connecting flight is used
- The type of goods: dangerous, high-value or oversized shipments need extra handling
- Fuel and security surcharges and airport handling charges
- Collection, delivery and customs work at both ends for a door-to-door service
- Season and available capacity
Keeping packaging as compact as the goods allow lowers the volumetric weight and with it the cost; stackable cartons also avoid wasted space in the aircraft and the risk of extra charges.
Dangerous goods by air
Dangerous goods carried by air are governed by the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), which are based on the ICAO Technical Instructions and updated every year. The goods must be correctly classified with their UN number, packed in UN-approved packaging where required, marked and labelled, and accompanied by a Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods. Some substances may only travel on cargo aircraft; others are forbidden by air altogether.
Lithium batteries, aerosols, paints and a range of chemicals are among the dangerous goods most often seen in air cargo. Sharing your product’s safety data sheet (SDS) at the quote stage lets us confirm up front whether and how it can fly. For dangerous goods moving by road, see our ADR dangerous goods transport service.
Documents and customs
The core air freight documents are the commercial invoice, the packing list and the air waybill (AWB). On consolidated shipments a master air waybill (MAWB) is issued on behalf of the airline, and each consignment travels under its own house air waybill (HAWB). Depending on the destination you may also need a certificate of origin, an A.TR for industrial goods going to the EU or a EUR.1 for countries with a free trade agreement, while dangerous goods need a shipper’s declaration and SDS. We plan the export declaration and destination clearance before the goods move; for regulation and declarations, see our customs clearance page.
Why Multitransport?
- One party responsible, door to door: collection, paperwork, the flight and delivery are managed from one operations desk.
- Electronic shipment updates: you are kept informed of your shipment’s status throughout.
- Dangerous goods included: we plan IATA DGR shipments together with their documentation and packaging requirements.
- Every mode compared: we weigh air against road freight and sea freight at the same desk and recommend what suits your cargo.
- A worldwide reach: our partner and agency network covers destinations around the world.
- Certified processes: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001 and ISO 45001 management system certificates.