How Long Does Air Freight Take? Average Transit Times

While air cargo is the fastest shipping method, the total transit timeline involves more than just the flight duration. Let's outline the average timeframes for international air freight.

Average Flight and Handling Timelines

The total duration for airport-to-airport air cargo typically ranges from 3 to 5 business days. Here is the breakdown:

• Origin Handling (1-2 days): Local cartage delivery, cargo check-in, weighting, security screening, build-up of ULD pallets, and staging at the departure terminal.
• Flight Airborne Transit (8-24 hours): The actual flight time plus loading and transit connections at major hubs like Anchorage or Dubai.
• Destination Breakdown & Customs (1-2 days): Unloading from flight (RCF status), transferring to warehouse, notifying consignee (NFD status), import customs clearance, and local pickup.

Express vs Standard Cargo

If you ship via express air cargo (using services like DHL Aviation, FedEx, or UPS Cargo), transit time drops to 1 to 3 days. Standard consolidated air freight takes 4 to 7 days due to consolidation staging times.

How to Monitor Air Cargo Speed

Input your 11-digit AWB on our tracker. By checking milestones like RCS (Received at Origin) and RCF (Received at Destination), you can measure the exact processing speed of the terminal handlers.