International air freight is the fastest way to ship goods from Canada to almost anywhere in the world. Your cargo is taken to the airport, loaded onto a passenger or cargo aircraft, flown to the destination city and then cleared through customs and trucked to its final address. It costs more than ocean or ground shipping, and it is priced on “chargeable weight” rather than just the scale weight, so knowing how the process works helps you decide when air is worth it and keep the cost down.

When international air freight beats ocean

Whether air is the right choice comes down to three things: time, cost, and the size and weight of your shipment.

• Speed: air shipments to major cities typically arrive in days, while ocean freight is measured in weeks and can take two months or more door to door on some routes.
• Urgency: for parts needed to restart a production line, a missed deadline, samples or time-sensitive goods, the speed of air often justifies the higher price.
• Value and size: small, light, high-value items are ideal for air. Heavy or bulky goods usually make more sense by sea.
• Handling: air cargo spends less time in transit and is generally handled under tighter security, which can mean less risk of damage or theft.

Air freight handles a wide range of cargo, from small parcels, luggage and gifts to oversized items and perishables. If your deadline is flexible and your budget is tight, though, ocean shipping or LCL (less than container load) is usually far cheaper. Many shippers split the difference: urgent items by air, the rest by sea.

How air freight is priced: chargeable weight

Aircraft run out of space before they run out of lifting capacity, so airlines charge for whichever is greater: the actual weight of your shipment or its volumetric (dimensional) weight. That figure is the chargeable weight.

The standard formula used by most airlines is:

• Length × width × height in centimetres, divided by 6,000 = volumetric weight in kilograms
• Put another way, one cubic metre is treated as about 167 kg

For example, a crate measuring 100 × 80 × 60 cm has a volumetric weight of 80 kg (480,000 ÷ 6,000). If it actually weighs 50 kg, you are charged for 80 kg. If it weighs 95 kg, you are charged for 95 kg. Courier services sometimes use a smaller divisor, which makes light, bulky boxes more expensive still.

Besides chargeable weight, your price depends on:

• Destination and routing: distance and the routes available, including whether a direct flight exists
• Service level: standard or express
• Extra services: pick-up, packing and delivery at the destination

To keep costs down, pack as compactly as you safely can. Removing empty space from oversized boxes is often the single biggest saving.

The air waybill and other documents

The air waybill (AWB) is the key document in any international air freight shipment. It is the contract of carriage between the shipper and the airline, a receipt for the goods, and the reference number you use to track the shipment. Unlike an ocean bill of lading, an air waybill is not a document of title and cannot be negotiated. When you ship through a forwarder, the airline issues a master air waybill and the forwarder issues a house air waybill for each customer’s goods.

Other documents you may need include:

• Commercial invoice: what is being shipped, its value and the buyer and seller
• Packing list: the number of pieces, with weights and dimensions
• Export declaration: commercial goods leaving Canada for countries other than the United States generally must be reported to the Canada Border Services Agency when they are valued at CAD $2,000 or more, or are controlled or regulated
• Permits or certificates: where the goods or the destination require them

The international air freight process, step by step

1. Quote and booking: you provide the pieces, weights, dimensions, destination and required arrival date, and space is booked on a suitable flight.
2. Packing and labelling: goods are packed to air freight standards and labelled correctly, with addresses and handling marks.
3. Drop-off or pick-up: the cargo is delivered to the forwarder’s warehouse or picked up, then taken to the airline’s cargo terminal for screening and preparation.
4. Documents: once all the paperwork is in order, the air waybill is issued.
5. Flight: depending on the route, the shipment may change aircraft at one or more hubs before reaching its destination.
6. Arrival and customs: the shipment is cleared through customs at the destination, then released for pick-up or delivery to the consignee.

Free storage time at the destination airport terminal is usually short, so make sure the receiver or customs broker is ready to clear and collect the goods as soon as they land to avoid storage charges.

What can cause delays

• Missing or inaccurate documents, or customs holds and inspections
• Airline capacity, schedule changes or missed connections at transfer hubs
• Remote destinations, which can take several extra days to reach after the main flight
• Undeclared dangerous goods discovered during screening

Dangerous goods basics

Many everyday items are classed as dangerous goods when flown: lithium batteries and devices that contain them, aerosols, perfumes, paints, flammable liquids, compressed gases, magnetized materials and some chemicals. Air transport of dangerous goods follows the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, which set out how they must be classified, packed, marked, labelled and documented.

• The shipper is responsible for declaring dangerous goods; hiding or misdescribing them can lead to serious fines.
• Regulated items need a Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods and must be prepared by trained staff.
• Some items can only travel on cargo aircraft, and some are forbidden by air altogether.

If you are unsure whether something you are sending is regulated, ask before you book.

Frequently asked questions

How long does international air freight take?

Shipments between major cities often arrive within a few days, while remote destinations, connections and customs can add more. It is still much faster than ocean freight.

What is chargeable weight?

It is the greater of the actual weight and the volumetric weight (L × W × H in cm ÷ 6,000). You pay for whichever is higher.

Can I ship personal effects by air?

Yes. Air is a good choice for a few boxes or suitcases you need quickly. For a larger move, see our personal effects shipping options.

Do I need a customs broker at the destination?

Usually, yes, unless the receiver clears the goods themselves. We can put you in touch with agents who can handle clearance at the destination.

World Cargo has arranged international air freight from Vancouver since 2008, with a team that has more than 35 years of combined experience, for everything from single boxes to industrial air cargo. Send us your pieces, weights and dimensions through our air freight page or request a quote.