Air Freight Forwarding Services from the USA
Faster Freight arranges air freight forwarding from the United States to airports worldwide. We book space with airlines, collect your cargo, prepare the air waybill and export filing, and coordinate customs and delivery at destination. Choose standard or priority service, airport-to-airport or door-to-door, with one team managing the whole shipment.
- Standard and priority air cargo
- Door-to-door or airport-to-airport
- Export documents handled
- Mon–Fri, 9am–6pm ET
Last updated: September 2026
Air freight services we arrange
Every shipment is different, so we match the service level to your deadline, cargo and budget instead of selling one fixed product.
-
Standard air cargo
Scheduled airline space for general cargo when you need faster transit than ocean at a controlled cost. A good fit for regular replenishment orders and mid-size consignments.
-
Priority and expedited air freight
Faster routings and priority booking for urgent spare parts, production-critical items and orders with a fixed delivery date.
-
Consolidated air freight
Smaller shipments are grouped with other cargo on the same route, so you share aircraft space and pay less than booking alone.
-
Door-to-door air shipping
Pickup at your facility, export paperwork, the flight, destination customs and final delivery, all under one door-to-door booking.
-
Sea-air and road-air
Combine transport modes to balance cost and speed, for example trucking to a gateway airport or pairing an ocean leg with a final air leg.
-
Customs support and cargo insurance
Export filing support, destination customs clearance coordination and cargo insurance on request.
Shipping to India? See our dedicated air freight from New York to Delhi service.
Is air freight the right choice for your shipment?
Air freight costs more per kilo than ocean freight, but it is far faster. This comparison shows where each mode fits best.
| Factor | Air freight | Ocean freight |
|---|---|---|
| Typical transit | Measured in days | Measured in weeks |
| How it's priced | Chargeable weight (actual or volumetric, whichever is greater) | Per container (FCL) or per cubic meter (LCL) |
| Best for | Urgent, high-value, lightweight or low-volume cargo | Heavy, bulky or high-volume cargo with a flexible deadline |
| Size limits | Set by aircraft door and cargo pallet (ULD) dimensions | 20ft and 40ft containers, plus flat racks and open tops for oversized cargo |
| Cost per kilo | Higher | Lower, especially at larger volumes |
- Choose air when a late delivery would cost more than the freight, such as a stopped production line or a missed launch.
- Choose air for high-value goods, where fewer days in transit means less capital tied up in inventory.
- Choose LCL ocean freight for a few pallets that are not time-sensitive.
- Choose full container (FCL) shipping for heavy or high-volume loads.
How is air freight cost calculated?
Airlines charge for the space cargo takes up in the aircraft as well as its weight. Your rate is based on chargeable weight: the greater of the actual weight and the volumetric (dimensional) weight. Light but bulky cargo is charged on volume.
The final quote also depends on these factors:
- Route and airports. Direct flights and busy airport pairs usually price differently from connecting routes.
- Service level. Priority and expedited bookings cost more than standard or consolidated space.
- Surcharges. Airlines add fuel and security surcharges that change over time.
- Handling. Terminal handling at the origin and destination airports.
- Pickup and delivery. Trucking to and from the airports on door-to-door moves.
- Customs, duties and taxes. These are set by the destination country and vary by product.
- Season and capacity. Rates rise when aircraft space is tight, for example before major holidays.
Chargeable weight calculator
Pre-filled with one pallet measuring 48 × 40 × 50 inches (122 × 102 × 127 cm) and weighing 300 lb (136 kg). Change the numbers to check your own shipment.
How we move your air shipment
- QuoteSend us piece count, weights, dimensions, the pickup address and the destination. We compare airline options and send an itemized rate.
- BookingOnce you approve the quote, we reserve space on the chosen flight and confirm the cut-off time for cargo delivery to the airline.
- Pickup and preparationWe arrange collection and check that packing, labels and commodity details meet airline and TSA security requirements.
- Documents and export filingWe issue the air waybill and check the commercial invoice and packing list. When required, we file the Electronic Export Information (EEI) in AES.
- Flight and trackingWe follow the shipment from departure to arrival and keep you updated. You can also use our shipment tracking page.
- Customs and deliveryWe coordinate import clearance at destination and deliver to the consignee's door, or hand over at the airport if you prefer.
What documents do you need to export by air from the USA?
Missing or inconsistent paperwork is one of the most common causes of air cargo delays. These are the documents most US air exports need.
| Document | What it does | Who prepares it |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Lists the goods, their value and the buyer and seller. Destination customs use it to calculate duties. | Shipper |
| Packing list | Shows the number of pieces, weights, dimensions and contents of each package. | Shipper |
| Air waybill (AWB) | Serves as the contract of carriage and the receipt for the cargo. It carries the tracking number. | Faster Freight or the airline |
| Shipper's letter of instruction | Gives the forwarder your routing, billing and export filing instructions. | Shipper, using our template |
| EEI filing (AES) | Reports the export to the US government. It is generally required when one Schedule B line is valued over $2,500 or the goods need an export license. | Faster Freight, on your behalf |
| Certificates and permits | Some destinations and products need extra documents, such as a certificate of origin, an export license or a dangerous goods declaration. | Depends on the item. We'll tell you what applies. |
Industries we ship for by air
Air freight fits products where speed, value or timing matter more than the cost per kilo. These are the industries that use it most.
-
E-commerce and DTC brands
Restocks and launch inventory when a stockout costs more than the freight.
-
Retail and wholesale
Seasonal lines and urgent reorders for stores and distribution centers.
-
Apparel and fashion
Samples and season-critical collections that can't wait for an ocean schedule.
-
Electronics
High-value devices and components, with batteries declared correctly before booking.
-
Health and wellness
Medical supplies and wellness products that need speed and careful paperwork.
-
Beauty and cosmetics
Launch stock and samples, with liquids and aerosols checked against airline rules.
-
Automotive parts
Replacement parts that keep dealers, workshops and fleets moving.
-
Industrial equipment
Spare parts and components for machines that can't sit idle.
Why ship air freight with Faster Freight
- One team from pickup to delivery. The same people book the flight, prepare the paperwork and follow up with customs, so nothing is lost between providers.
- Itemized quotes. Freight, fuel and security surcharges, handling and delivery are listed separately, so you can see what you are paying for.
- A choice of airlines. We work with multiple carriers, so we can offer different routings, prices and transit times.
- Florida gateway. Our Bay Harbor Islands office is close to Miami International Airport, a major cargo hub for the Caribbean and Latin America. We also arrange air freight from other US airports.
- Real people to talk to. Call +1 (888) 310-1917 Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm ET, email quotes@fasterfreight.com, or message us on WhatsApp.
- In business since 2005. Faster Freight is a division of STG Freight Services, Inc., incorporated in Florida in 2005. Learn more about us.
Get your air freight quote
Fill in the form below. The more cargo detail you give us, the more accurate your first quote will be. Tip: work out your chargeable weight in the calculator above, then use Use these numbers in my quote to fill in the cargo details.
If your shipment is urgent, call +1 (888) 310-1917 (Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm ET) or use the full quote request page.
Air freight FAQs
Answers to the questions shippers ask us most about air freight from the USA.
How long does air freight take from the USA?
Transit time depends on the departure and destination airports, whether the flight is direct or connecting, the service level you choose and how quickly customs clears the cargo. Air freight is usually measured in days, while ocean freight is measured in weeks. We confirm an estimated schedule with every quote.
How is air freight cost calculated?
Air freight is priced by chargeable weight, which is the greater of the actual weight and the volumetric weight of your cargo. The rate also depends on the route, service level, fuel and security surcharges, handling at origin and destination, pickup and delivery, and any customs duties or taxes.
What is volumetric weight in air freight?
Volumetric (dimensional) weight reflects how much space cargo takes up in the aircraft. A common formula is length × width × height in centimeters divided by 6,000 for kilograms, or in inches divided by 166 for pounds. Light but bulky cargo is usually charged on its volumetric weight.
What documents do I need to export by air from the USA?
Most air exports need a commercial invoice, a packing list and an air waybill. An Electronic Export Information (EEI) filing in AES is generally required when a single Schedule B line is valued over $2,500 or when the goods need an export license. Some destinations and products also need certificates or permits.
Can I ship dangerous goods or lithium batteries by air?
Some can, but they must be declared, classified, packed and labeled under the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, and some items are not accepted on passenger aircraft. Tell us about batteries, chemicals, aerosols or other hazardous items when you request a quote so we can confirm whether and how they can fly.
Do you offer door-to-door air freight?
Yes. We can collect cargo from your door, handle export documents, book the flight, coordinate customs clearance at destination and arrange final delivery. If you prefer, we can also quote airport-to-airport service and let your consignee handle the destination side.
What information do I need for an air freight quote?
Send the pickup address or departure airport, the destination, a description of the goods, the number of pieces, the weight and dimensions of each piece, the value and your target delivery date. Mention anything fragile, hazardous or time-critical. Our team replies Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm ET.