Air Freight Services
Air Freight From China — What We Cover
Standard consolidation air freight, express and door-to-door service from major Chinese airports to all key global destinations.
Standard Air Freight — 5–14 Days
Consolidated air freight (also known as airport-to-airport or door-to-door air cargo) from Shanghai Pudong, Shenzhen Bao'an and Guangzhou Baiyun to Frankfurt, Heathrow, Amsterdam, JFK, LAX and Dubai. Best for regular commercial shipments where speed is important but express rates are not justified.
Express Air — 3–5 Days
Urgent shipments via dedicated express networks or charter air. Suitable for product samples, replacement stock, high-value goods where every day in transit has a measurable cost. Door-to-door in 3–5 working days from Shenzhen or Shanghai.
Door-to-Door Delivery
Airport-to-airport or full door-to-door service including import customs clearance, destination handling and final delivery to your warehouse, Amazon FBA centre or business address. DDP option available — all import duties pre-paid by Latynex.
General & Specialised Cargo
Electronics, apparel, samples, industrial components, cosmetics and other general cargo. Dangerous goods (IATA-classified) handled subject to carrier acceptance and airline restrictions — we confirm DG eligibility before booking.
All Major Gateway Airports
Frankfurt (FRA), London Heathrow (LHR), Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), Paris CDG, Los Angeles (LAX), New York JFK, Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Dubai (DXB) and more. We handle import customs at all destination gateways.
Full Air Cargo Documentation
Master airway bill (MAWB), house airway bill (HAWB), commercial invoice, packing list, dangerous goods declarations and import entry documentation — all prepared and filed by our team from a single instruction.
The Process
How Air Freight From China Works
Seven stages from supplier pickup in China to final delivery at your destination.
Air freight is typically the fastest international freight mode but requires precise documentation and accurate weight/dimension data to avoid re-billing at the airport. Latynex manages every stage — from chargeable weight calculation and booking through to destination customs clearance and final delivery.
Quote with cargo dimensions and chargeable weight
Provide actual weight (kg), dimensions (L×W×H cm per piece) and piece count. Air freight is charged on actual weight or volumetric weight (L×W×H/6000), whichever is higher. We calculate chargeable weight accurately and quote accordingly — no surprises when cargo is weighed at the airport.
Booking confirmed and space allocated
Once you confirm the quote, we book space on the appropriate flight — a direct service where possible, connecting via a hub where it reduces transit time or cost. For express shipments, we prioritise next-available direct flights.
Supplier pickup and pre-carriage to airport
Our China-based team collects from your supplier's factory or warehouse and transports cargo to the origin airport. For FBA shipments, FNSKU labeling and carton prep are completed before airport handoff.
China export customs and airway bill issued
We file the Chinese export customs declaration and obtain customs release at the origin airport. The house airway bill (HAWB) is issued to you as your cargo tracking reference once the shipment is accepted by the airline.
Flight — 5–14 days (standard) or 3–5 days (express)
Cargo travels by air to the destination airport. For standard consolidated air freight, cargo may be consolidated with other shipments on the same flight. For express or charter, cargo travels on a dedicated service. We provide milestone tracking via the HAWB.
Destination customs clearance
Our customs broker at the destination airport files the import entry. For DDP shipments, all import duties and VAT/import tax are paid by Latynex. For DAP, we notify you of the duty amount for self-payment. Clearance typically takes 1–2 working days at major gateways.
Final delivery to your address
Cleared cargo is collected from the airport cargo facility and delivered to your specified address — warehouse, Amazon FBA fulfilment centre, 3PL or business address. For Amazon FBA, we book the delivery appointment and manage handoff to the FC dock.
Cost Guide
Air Freight Cost Estimates — China to Europe, USA & UAE
Indicative all-in rates by weight bracket. Chargeable weight governs — actual or volumetric, whichever is higher. Rates include origin handling, flight, destination handling and DDP import duties where specified.
All figures are indicative cost-per-kg ranges. Chargeable weight = max(actual kg, L×W×H cm ÷ 6,000). Rates vary by destination, airline, season and cargo type. Fuel surcharges and airport handling fees are included. DDP quotes add import duty and VAT/import tax on top of freight. Contact Latynex for a specific quote.
Key pricing note: Air freight rates are highly sensitive to fuel prices, seasonal demand (Q4 peak and Chinese New Year), cargo type and specific routing. The ranges above represent typical market conditions — actual quotes may vary. Express/courier rates are separate and significantly higher per kg but justified when the value of faster delivery exceeds the freight premium. For a broader planning estimate across modes, try the Shipping Cost Estimator.
What Determines Air Freight Cost
Mode Comparison
Air Freight vs Sea Freight — When to Choose Which
The right freight mode depends on your timeline, cargo weight, value density and stock-out risk. Here is a direct comparison.
Air freight often makes sense when the cost of delayed stock (lost sales, FBA stock-out penalties, production downtime) exceeds the freight rate premium over sea. For regular, price-sensitive, high-volume cargo where several weeks of lead time is acceptable, sea freight is typically more cost-effective.
Where does rail fit? For China–Europe shipments where sea freight is too slow but air freight cost isn't justified, rail freight (typically 18–25 days) can sit between the two — often cheaper per kg than air and considerably faster than sea, depending on lane and cargo profile. Want exact numbers for your own shipment? Try the Transit Time Estimator.
Is Air Freight Right for You?
When Air Freight Makes Sense
Air freight carries a real cost premium over sea and rail — it earns that premium in specific situations.
Urgent replenishment
Stock is running low and the cost of a stock-out (lost sales, FBA penalties) outweighs the freight premium.
Product launches
A launch date is fixed and cargo needs to land on time — lead-time certainty matters more than lowest freight cost.
Smaller, higher-value shipments
Electronics, components and other high value-per-kg goods where freight cost is a small share of landed cost.
Samples and time-critical batches
Product samples or urgent commercial batches where waiting weeks for sea freight isn't practical.
Consider the Alternatives
When Air Freight May Not Be the Best Fit
Bulky, low-value cargo
Furniture, large plastics and similar goods are often charged on volumetric weight — air can become uneconomical fast.
Large, non-urgent volumes
Regular restocking with several weeks of lead time available is usually cheaper by sea or rail.
Cargo restricted from air transport
Some commodities and dangerous-goods categories are limited or prohibited on air services — sea or rail may be the only option.
Cost-sensitive, price-led orders
Where margin is thin and timing is flexible, the air premium is rarely worth it over sea or rail.
Airport Coverage
China Origin Airports & Global Gateways
Key airport pairings for China air freight — by route.
China → Europe
- Shanghai PVG → Frankfurt FRA (5–9 days)
- Shanghai PVG → London LHR (6–10 days)
- Shenzhen SZX → Amsterdam AMS (6–10 days)
- Guangzhou CAN → Paris CDG (7–11 days)
- Any China airport → any EU/UK airport
China → USA
- Shanghai PVG → Los Angeles LAX (6–10 days)
- Shanghai PVG → New York JFK (8–14 days)
- Shenzhen SZX → Los Angeles LAX (6–10 days)
- Guangzhou CAN → Chicago ORD (7–12 days)
- Any China airport → any US gateway
China → UAE
- Shanghai PVG → Dubai DXB (4–7 days)
- Shenzhen SZX → Dubai DXB (4–7 days)
- Guangzhou CAN → Dubai DXB (4–7 days)
- Express: 2–4 days door-to-door
- Also: Abu Dhabi AUH available
Pricing and transit times are estimates. Air freight rates change with fuel prices, airline capacity, seasonal demand and routing. Chargeable weight is confirmed at the airport at time of acceptance. All quotes from Latynex are based on the information provided — re-quoting may be necessary if actual cargo differs from the information supplied.
Documentation
Air Freight Documentation — What You Need
Airway Bills (MAWB & HAWB)
The MAWB is issued by the airline; the HAWB is your shipment-level tracking and release document. Both are prepared by Latynex from your cargo booking details.
Commercial Invoice & Packing List
Required for export customs in China and import customs at destination. Must accurately describe the goods, declared value, quantity and country of origin. Incorrect invoices are the most common cause of customs delays.
Import Entry at Destination
Filed by our customs broker at the destination airport. Under DDP, where applicable, duties and taxes can be paid by Latynex as part of the quote. Under DAP, we notify you of the payable amount before release.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
If your cargo contains any IATA-classified dangerous goods (lithium batteries, aerosols, chemicals, etc.), a Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods is required. We advise on DG classification before booking.
Combining cargo on one flight doesn't change the customs classification of any individual product — duty and VAT still depend on HS code, declared value and destination. For an indicative estimate, try the Import Duty Calculator (a planning tool, not an official tariff lookup), or compare DDP vs DAP before booking.
Get an Accurate Quote
What We Need to Quote Air Freight
The more of this you have ready, the faster and more accurate your quote — especially weight and dimensions, since chargeable weight drives air freight cost.
Need fast shipping from China?
Tell us your cargo weight, dimensions and destination. We'll calculate chargeable weight and send a quote same day.
FAQ
Air Freight From China — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about air freight from China — transit times, pricing, documentation and more.
Related
Related Services & Routes
Sea Freight
FCL and LCL ocean freight from China — lower cost, longer transit.
Rail Freight
China–Europe block train — a middle option between air and sea on cost and speed.
FBA Shipping Readiness
Check whether your shipment is ready for Amazon FBA before you book.
DDP Shipping
All-in landed cost with duties and taxes pre-paid by Latynex.
Amazon FBA
Air freight direct to Amazon FBA fulfilment centres — FNSKU prep included.
Warehouse & Prep
Multi-supplier consolidation and FBA labeling in China before export.
China → Germany
Air freight transit times and DDP costs for the China–Germany corridor.
China → USA
Air freight to US Amazon FCs. Section 301 tariffs confirmed before booking.
China → UAE
4–8 day air freight from China to Dubai. DDP and free zone delivery.
Logistics Assessment
Before you book — review your route, mode and landed cost. From €99.
Already have a supplier quote?
Get it checked before you pay — €99, within 2 business days.