3–7 Days Door-to-Door. Express, Consolidated, Charter.

Typical 2026 air freight rates: Asia → USA $4.50–$8.00/kg express, $2.50–$5.50/kg consolidated. Europe → USA $3.00–$6.00/kg. Latin America → USA $1.80–$4.20/kg. Rates spike 20–40% in peak season (Aug–Nov for back-to-school and holiday). Charter is quoted per flight. Suaid Global quotes air rates in under 24 hours — same-day for urgent.

Door-to-door air freight from major Chinese cities to US destinations typically takes 3–7 days. Breakdown: 1 day pickup and consolidation at origin, 1–2 days transit (direct flight Shanghai → Los Angeles is 12 hours; with hub transit 24–36 hours), 1–2 days for US customs and ground handling, 1–2 days final-mile delivery.

Use air when: (a) transit time matters (3–7 days vs. 14–45 ocean), (b) cargo is high-value relative to weight ($/kg justifies premium), (c) inventory carrying cost or stockout cost exceeds the rate difference, or (d) cargo is time-sensitive (perishables, pharma, electronics launches). Ocean wins on cost for >500 kg of dense general cargo without urgency.

Belly cargo on a wide-body passenger aircraft: max single piece typically 2,000 kg / 318 × 153 × 163 cm. Cargo aircraft (B747F, B777F) accepts pieces up to 6,800 kg and oversized dimensions (up to 12 m on the main deck). Charter handles cargo over those limits. Suaid Global routes oversized air via cargo aircraft and charter as needed.

Yes, with IATA DGR (Dangerous Goods Regulations) classification, certified packaging, and a Shipper's Declaration of Dangerous Goods. Many classes are restricted on passenger aircraft (lithium batteries, certain Class 3 flammables) — these route via cargo aircraft only. Suaid Global ships hazmat air through IATA-accredited agent partners in our network.

The air waybill is the contract of carriage and non-negotiable receipt for air cargo. House AWB (HAWB) issued by the forwarder; Master AWB (MAWB) issued by the airline. Both required for cargo release at destination. Unlike an ocean bill of lading, the AWB is not a document of title.

Express: scheduled passenger flights, priority handling, 3–5 days door-to-door, premium rate. Consolidated: cargo aircraft with multiple shippers, 5–9 days, mid-tier rate. Charter: full aircraft for one shipper, 1–3 days, premium-premium rate, ideal for oversized cargo or critical emergencies. Suaid Global advises based on weight, urgency, and budget.

Yes. Cold-chain air handling is available via temperature-controlled ULDs (unit load devices) and certified cold-chain corridors. Suaid Global's air partner network includes IATA CEIV Pharma-certified handlers in key gateways (Frankfurt, Brussels, Singapore, JFK, MIA). Validated 2–8°C and 15–25°C lanes available.

Yes. Milestone tracking includes: pickup, gate-in at origin airport, AWB issued, flight departed, flight landed, gate-out at destination, customs released, final delivery. Wide-body flights are tracked in near-real-time via airline cargo systems.

Air freight charges on the higher of actual weight or volumetric weight, calculated as L × W × H (cm) ÷ 6,000 = kg. For example, a 100 × 80 × 60 cm box weighing 30 kg has volumetric weight 80 kg and bills as 80 kg. This compensates carriers for low-density cargo that consumes aircraft space.

When booked door-to-door with Suaid Global, yes — customs is coordinated through our licensed broker partners. Air entry can be filed and cleared while the aircraft is still in transit ('release before arrival'), so cargo often clears within 1–2 hours of landing.

Express service uses the next-available passenger flight with priority cargo handling and guaranteed uplift. Typical transit on major lanes: Asia → US 36–60 hours airport-to-airport. Combined with same-day pickup and 1-day final-mile, total door-to-door is 3–5 days. Faster than consolidated air, slower than charter.

Yes. Suaid Global quotes air freight in under 24 hours for routine inquiries and within 2 business hours for express and emergency requests. The quote includes uplift confirmation when capacity is reserved at the time of pricing.

Commercial invoice, packing list, air waybill (issued by Suaid Global), MSDS for hazmat or chemical cargo, IATA Shipper's Declaration for dangerous goods, and PGA-specific certificates (FDA prior notice, USDA permits) when applicable. For US imports, ISF is not required for air (ocean only) but entry filing is.