Air freight costs the most per kilogram, which is exactly why it is the right choice when standing still costs more than shipping: spare parts for a stopped line, production ramp-ups, samples awaiting approval, temperature-critical pharmaceuticals, high-value goods with small volume. Booking air freight is buying time, not tonnage.
Istanbul is a substantial cargo hub with wide network coverage, which works in your favour: connections to most regions are frequent, and Türkiye's own export volumes keep capacity available. We book from the Turkish gateways, arrange pickup, handling, documentation and import clearance.
Volumetric weight: where quotes go wrong
Charges are based on the greater of actual and volumetric weight. Air freight conventionally uses a divisor of 6000: length × width × height in centimetres divided by 6000 gives the volumetric weight in kilograms. One cubic metre therefore equals roughly 167 kg of chargeable weight.
The practical consequence is that a light bulky shipment costs the same as a much heavier compact one. Trimming a few centimetres from the packaging reduces the price directly. We check dimensions before booking and flag it when repacking pays for itself.
Gateways and transit
| Origin | Destination region | Indicative |
|---|---|---|
| Istanbul (IST) | Western Europe | 1–2 days |
| Istanbul (IST) | United Kingdom, Nordics | 1–3 days |
| Istanbul (IST) | North America | 2–4 days |
| Istanbul (IST) | Middle East, Gulf | 1–3 days |
| Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) | Europe | 1–3 days |
| İzmir (ADB) | Europe, via IST | 2–3 days |
These figures cover the air leg including handling. Add pickup to the departure airport, import clearance and onward delivery. We quote the total time to the receiver's door, not the flight time.
Service levels
Consolidated
Standard option: your cargo shares a consolidation in the hold of a scheduled flight. Lowest air rate, transit depends on the flight schedule.
Express / direct
Booked on a specific flight with priority handling. Justified when one day of difference translates into production cost.
On-board courier
A courier accompanies the shipment as cabin or checked baggage. The fastest available option for small critical items.
Charter
For oversized or extremely urgent cargo where scheduled capacity is insufficient. Quoted per project.
Dangerous goods and temperature control
Dangerous goods in air transport are governed by the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, which are markedly stricter than road rules: some substances are permitted only on cargo aircraft, others are forbidden outright, and quantity limits per package are tight. Lithium batteries are the most commonly underestimated case — they carry their own requirements even when installed in equipment. To assess a shipment we need the UN number, class, packing group and, for batteries, the cell chemistry, watt-hours or lithium content, and whether they ship standalone, packed with equipment or contained in equipment.
Temperature-sensitive cargo moves in passive thermal packaging or active containers with recorded data. For pharmaceuticals the critical variable is ramp and handling time rather than flight time, so we agree the handling arrangements in advance.
Documentation and clearance
The Air Waybill (AWB) is the core transport document. Customs treatment follows the destination: A.TR removes duty on industrial goods entering the EU, the UK–Türkiye agreement applies for the United Kingdom against proof of origin, and other markets apply their normal tariff. Our customs clearance team handles the procedures.
A practical warning: with air freight, customs clearance is frequently the longest single element of the total transit. A shipment that flies in twelve hours and then waits two days for paperwork has given away its entire advantage. We prepare the declaration in parallel with the flight.
Alternatives
- Road freight — for Europe, usually far more economical at 4–7 days
- Sea freight — when volume matters and time does not
- Shipping rates — how chargeable weight drives the price
- Last mile delivery — delivery from the destination airport
Frequently asked questions
How is air freight priced?
On the greater of actual and volumetric weight. Volumetric weight is length × width × height in centimetres divided by 6000, so one cubic metre equals approximately 167 kg of chargeable weight. Light bulky shipments are therefore charged on volume. More compact packaging reduces the price directly, which is why we review dimensions before booking.
How quickly can cargo reach Europe from Türkiye?
The air leg including handling is typically 1 to 2 days to western Europe and 1 to 3 days to the UK and Nordics from Istanbul. The delivered date depends on pickup, import clearance and onward delivery as well. In practice customs clearance is often the longest element, so we prepare the declaration in parallel with the flight instead of starting on arrival.
Can you carry lithium batteries?
In many cases yes, but only under the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations with correct classification, packaging and marking — and this applies to batteries installed in equipment as well. Some configurations are permitted only on cargo aircraft. We need the UN number, cell chemistry, watt-hours or lithium content, and whether the batteries ship standalone, packed with equipment or contained in equipment.
When does air freight beat road freight?
When the time difference is worth more than the rate difference. Road reaches most of Europe in 4 to 7 working days at a fraction of the air rate. Air freight therefore pays off for production stoppages, urgent spare parts, time-critical launches, or goods with high value and low volume where freight is marginal against the value of the cargo.
Do you arrange on-board couriers?
Yes, for small and genuinely critical consignments. A courier travels with the shipment on the next available flight, which removes waiting time in cargo handling. It is the fastest option available and priced accordingly, so it makes sense when downtime is measured in hours rather than days.