Air freight can cost several times more per kilo than ocean. But for the right shipment, it is the cheaper option once you count the full cost of waiting.
Production-critical parts
A line stoppage costs far more than an air freight invoice. Spare parts and components are classic air cargo.
High-value, low-weight goods
Electronics, pharmaceuticals and luxury products carry a lot of value per kilo, so the freight cost is a small share of the total.
Perishables and short shelf life
Fresh food, flowers and temperature-sensitive medicines need speed and cold-chain control that only air can offer.
Sea-air: the middle ground
Ship by sea to a hub such as Dubai or Singapore, then fly the final leg. You save around half the cost of pure air freight and still arrive weeks earlier than by ocean.
