Air freight rates for your shipment

Competitive rates and a reliable service

Airlines usually fly from their home base. A shipment that has to go from Amsterdam to Hong Kong will fly with Qatar Airways via Doha in Qatar, while KLM flies directly to Hong Kong. As a result, KLM is at the destination within one day, while another airline with a stopover has a few days of extra transit time. On our website you can immediately see the difference in rate between a fast direct flight and a regular indirect flight, very handy!

Chargeable weight

The rate for an air freight shipment is calculated per the unit of kilograms. The kilo rate can differ per weight category. In air freight the total chargeable weight is determined by charging each cubic metre (cbm) at 166.67 kilograms. If a shipment of two cubic metres weighs 100 kilograms, then the chargeable weight is 333.5 kilograms (2 cubic metres x 166.67 kilograms). However, if the actual weight of the same shipment is 500 kilograms – higher, therefore – then that is the actual number of kilos that will be charged. To know the chargeable weight, the actual weight must therefore be compared with the charged volume weight. The chargeable weight is the highest weight from this comparison.

To calculate the chargeable weight, you can use our handy tool below. 

Costs of air freight

For an air freight shipment the following costs are involved:

1. Transport costs to the airport
a. Pick-up costs (Pre-carriage / Pick-up costs)

2. Costs at the airport of departure
a. Customs export clearance costs (Customer Clearance / Export document)
b. Airport costs (Export Terminal charges)
c. Handling costs (Export Handling charges)
d. Transport document costs (Master Airway Bill of Lading - MAWBL-costs)

3. The costs of flying
a. Air freight costs (Air freight-costs)

4. Costs at the airport of arrival
a. Customs import clearance costs (Customer Clearance)
b. Airport handling costs (Import handling charges)
c. Warehouse costs (Import warehouse charges)

5. Transport costs door delivery
a. Delivery costs (Delivery costs)

Incoterm and costs

On our incoterms page you can read about the incoterms that can apply to air freight transport. Incoterms are agreements between seller and buyer about costs and risks.

Incoterms for the import of air freight

Below you will find the common incoterms that (can) apply when importing goods that are shipped by air freight.

FOB-Air (Free on Board - Air):

Re 3. The costs of flying
a. Air freight costs (Air freight-costs)

Re 4. Costs at the airport of arrival
a. Customs import clearance costs (Customer Clearance)
b. Airport handling costs (Import handling charges)
c. Warehouse costs (Import warehouse charges)

Re 5. Transport costs door delivery
a. Delivery costs (Delivery costs)

FCA (Free carrier):

Re 2. Costs at the airport of departure
a. Customs export clearance costs (Customer Clearance / Export document)
b. Airport costs (Export Terminal charges)
c. Handling costs (Export Handling charges)
d. Transport document costs (Master Airway Bill of Lading - MAWBL-costs)

Re 3. The costs of flying
a. Air freight costs (Air freight-costs)

Re 4. Costs at the airport of arrival
a. Customs import clearance costs (Customer Clearance)
b. Airport handling costs (Import handling charges)
c. Warehouse costs (Import warehouse charges)

Re 5. Transport costs door delivery
a. Delivery costs (Delivery costs)

Ex Works:

Re 1. Transport costs to the airport
a. Pick-up costs (Pre-carriage / Pick-up costs)

Re 2. Costs at the airport of departure
a. Customs export clearance costs (Customer Clearance / Export document)
b. Airport costs (Export Terminal charges)
c. Handling costs (Export Handling charges)
d. Transport document costs (Master Airway Bill of Lading - MAWBL-costs)

Re 3. The costs of flying
a. Air freight costs (Air freight-costs)

Re 4. Costs at the airport of arrival
a. Customs import clearance costs (Customer Clearance)
b. Airport handling costs (Import handling charges)
c. Warehouse costs (Import warehouse charges)

Re 5. Transport costs door delivery
a. Delivery costs (Delivery costs)

Incoterms for the export of air freight

Below you will find the common incoterms that (can) apply when exporting goods that are shipped by air freight.

DAT (Delivered at Terminal) + CPT (Carriage Paid To) + CIP (Carriage and Insurance Paid To):

Re 1. Transport costs to the airport
a. Pick-up costs (Pre-carriage / Pick-up costs)

Re 2. Costs at the airport of departure
a. Customs export clearance costs (Customer Clearance / Export document)
b. Airport costs (Export Terminal charges)
c. Handling costs (Export Handling charges)
d. Transport document costs (Master Airway Bill of Lading - MAWBL-costs)

Re 3. The costs of flying
a. Air freight costs (Air freight-costs)

DAP (Delivered at Place):

Re 1. Transport costs to the airport
a. Pick-up costs (Pre-carriage / Pick-up costs)

Re 2. Costs at the airport of departure
a. Customs export clearance costs (Customer Clearance / Export document)
b. Airport costs (Export Terminal charges)
c. Handling costs (Export Handling charges)
d. Transport document costs (Master Airway Bill of Lading - MAWBL-costs)

Re 3. The costs of flying
** a. Air freight costs (Air freight-costs)

Re 4. Costs at the airport of arrival
a. Customs import clearance costs (Customer Clearance)
b. Airport handling costs (Import handling charges)
c. Warehouse costs (Import warehouse charges)

Re 5. Transport costs door delivery
a. Delivery costs (Delivery costs)

DDP (Delivery Duty Paid):

For all the incoterms above it applies that these are exclusive of any import duties and VAT imposed by customs (duties). If these duties must indeed be included in the price, then for export we speak of the incoterm: DDP (Delivery Duty Paid). Or DAP (Delivery at Place) + duties imposed by the customs of the country of import. If you as a seller want a DDP price, The Freight Hero will, via its customs agent in the country of destination, have to request these costs prior to shipment and charge them to the seller.

Air freight rates visible directly online

The Freight Hero ensures a clear overview of all air freight costs. After a few simple ordering steps you immediately see the air freight rate on www.thefreighthero.nl. With air freight import you always find the FOB rate directly online. With air freight export you find the DAT rate directly online.

Deviating incoterms quickly available on request

Other incoterms are, depending on the departure and destination airport, not always directly visible online, but are available on request and within a maximum of 24 hours.

At The Freight Hero you always get transparent and competitive air freight rates. Calculate your costs directly online and experience our fast and reliable service!