INTERNATIONAL AIR FREIGHT FORWARDER

Air Cargo to Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico & Worldwide

Approved Freight is a licensed international air freight forwarder with deep expertise in air cargo to Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, and global destinations. When your shipment can’t wait for a boat, we put it on the next available flight—with the carrier access, flexibility, and ground infrastructure to back it up.
As a licensed indirect air carrier, we access routes and rates that standard parcel carriers simply can’t offer. Whether you need air cargo to Honolulu, express freight to Guam, or time-critical international air freight across multiple borders, our specialists handle every detail from first mile to final delivery.

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Air Freight Service Levels

We can book your air cargo at every available service level—from the fastest emergency charter to the most cost-effective consolidated option. All service levels are available for Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, and international air freight routes.

Service Level Typical Speed Best For
Air Charter Same day / Next day Oversized, urgent, mission-critical cargo
First Flight Out 1 – 2 days Emergency restocks, time-critical deadlines
Express 1 – 3 days Priority shipments with flexibility on exact flight
Standard 2 – 4 days Reliable scheduled service, moderate cost
Deferred 3 – 5 days Non-urgent air freight at reduced cost
Consolidated 4 – 7 days Cost-sensitive air cargo, groupage with other freight

Air Charter

Full aircraft, exclusive use. Fastest option for oversized or urgent air cargo shipments.

Part Charter

Priority space on a scheduled flight. High-speed, cost-sharing option for large loads.

First Flight Out

Your air freight moves on the next available routing. Ideal for same-day emergency shipments.

Express Air Freight

Booked on the fastest available sequence of flights. Best balance of speed and cost for urgent cargo.

Standard Air Freight

Reliable scheduled service. Significantly faster than ocean freight at a moderate price point.

Deferred Air Freight

Lower-cost option when a day or two of flexibility is acceptable. Cargo ships when space is available.

Consolidated Air Freight

Lowest-cost air option. Your cargo shares space with other shipments heading to the same destination.

YOUR

Air Freight Forwarder to Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, and International Destinations

Air Freight to Hawaii

When you need to send air cargo quickly to Honolulu, Maui, or any Hawaiian Island, calling a standard parcel carrier might seem like the easiest option. However, their services have limitations—especially when shipping to Hawaii. As an indirect air carrier to Hawaii, we can access more routes, more scheduled flights, and cheaper rates. We offer comprehensive services for air cargo Hawaii with seamless inter-island delivery.

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Air Freight to Puerto Rico

Shipping air freight to Puerto Rico is the go-to choice when you need speed and efficiency. We have the knowledge, partnerships, and resources to get your air cargo to Puerto Rico on your timeline. Our services include assistance with Hacienda clearance, customs regulations, and documentation requirements to ensure your shipments arrive without delay.

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Air Freight to Guam

For fast and reliable shipping to Guam, air freight is often the best mode. Transit times can be as short as a few days, with the added benefit of minimal handling. As experts in Guam air freight, we have the experience and infrastructure to handle your cargo safely and efficiently. Check out our comprehensive guide on everything you need to know about Guam air freight.

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Air Freight International Shipping

We understand that each international shipment is unique. As an expert international air freight shipping company, we will work with you to find the right solution for your business. With our network of global partners, we can tailor solutions to your cargo’s specific needs, optimizing routes for cost-effectiveness and efficiency. We also assist with customs clearance and other logistics requirements for seamless international air cargo shipping. Looking to ship retail?

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How Air Freight Pricing Works

Air freight is priced on the greater of actual weight or dimensional (volumetric) weight. This is standard across all airlines and applies to every route—Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, and international.

If your cargo is dense and heavy, actual weight governs. If it’s large and light (think: packaged goods, furniture, equipment), dimensional weight will typically set your rate.

For an exact quote on your shipment—including dimensional weight calculation and all applicable charges—request a free air freight quote. Our specialists will identify the optimal service level for your budget and timeline.

The Advantages of an Air Freight Forwarder

air freight

FASTER TRANSIT TIMES AND LESS LEAD TIME

If you need to move your cargo quickly, air freight delivers. Compared to FCL or LCL ocean freight shipments, air freight transit times can be significantly shorter. Plus, air freight doesn’t require much lead time. In many cases, you can drop your air freight cargo the day before it departs and pick it up the day after it arrives.

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air freight shipments

LESS HANDLING FOR DELICATE SHIPMENTS

Air cargo is simply touched by fewer parties—and spends less time buffeted by the forces of nature. As a result, handling is minimal. That’s why many manufacturers choose air freight to ship luxury goods that need to arrive in pristine condition.

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PRECISE TIMELINES

While ocean freight transit times can vary by a few days, air freight schedules are much more exact. When there’s no wiggle room in your cargo’s arrival date, consider air freight.

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LOWER FEES

Lower fees. As opposed to other freight modes, which may come with a number of small line-item charges, air freight is subject to a flat $20 handling fee. This can offset some of the higher costs of this freight mode.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Air Freight Forwarding

You’ll hear many people in the transportation industry use these terms interchangeably. In fact, both air freight and air cargo are correct terms used to refer to goods that move via plane.

So where does the confusion come from? Some argue that there is a difference between the terms freight and cargo:

Freight refers to a volume of goods transported via truck, train, ship, or plane

In contrast, some believe the word cargo is reserved only for goods that travel via ship or plane. (Think:cargo ship, cargo plane.)

However, practically speaking, you’ll find that the words cargo and freight are often used to refer to goods that move via all modes of transportation

Air freight refers to goods moved via airplane. For example, if a manufacturer pays to send a shipment of purses to Hawaii on a plane for sale in a boutique, that shipment would be considered air freight.

Air freight can also be used to refer to the mode of transportation. For example: The purses were shipped via air freight.

Air freight is moved by airline carriers, who receive freight at their terminals, load cargo onto their planes, and then fly that freight to another terminal. Once it arrives at its final destination, air freight is unloaded and made available at the destination terminal for pickup.

Standard air freight is an air freight service level that allows you to reserve a spot for your cargo on an upcoming flight. Standard air freight is middle-of-the road service, in that there are both cheaper (and slower) options, as well as more expensive (and faster) ones as well.

The levels of air freight services you’ll encounter include the following:

Air Charter – The fastest service available, in which you essentially rent an entire aircraft to move only your cargo, on your schedule.

Part Charter – Also a high-priority service in which your agent books space on an already scheduled flight.

First Flight Out – High-priority air freight service in which your cargo moves on the first available flight to your destination.

Express – Priority air freight service. Your cargo moves on the first available flights with the quickest transit time.

Standard – General air freight service. Your shipment will move with relative speed, as compared to other modes of transportation. However, it’s not as expensive as the above options.

Deferred – Lower-cost air freight service, in which your cargo may wait a few days until there’s space available.

Consolidated/”Consol” – The lowest cost air freight available. In the consolidated air freight situation, an agent accumulates air freight headed for a particular destination at its warehouse. Once the agent has put together a full load, it will ship all the cargo to its final destination.

Keep in mind that available services will vary from airline to airline. Additionally, as you’ll notice, when it comes to air freight, you’re always balancing cost and speed. The faster your shipment moves, the more expensive it is, and vice versa.

Air freight can be divided into general cargo and special cargo

Special cargo are items that require specific packaging, labeling, or handling during transportation. This might be because the goods are hazardous, perishable, temperature-sensitive, etc. Live animals are also considered special cargo.

General cargo refers to everything else—anything that doesn’t require specific handling or labeling procedures.

Air freight cost is calculated based on a shipment’s actual weight or its volumetric weight/dimensional weight, whichever is greater. Read more about how air freight is priced, including how to calculate a shipment’s dim weight.

In most cases, air freight will be more expensive than sea freight/ocean freight. Whenever you’re shipping freight, you’re always balancing speed and cost. Options that move your cargo more quickly (like air freight) are more expensive than those that move at a slower pace (like ocean freight).

If you’d like to price out your air freight, we offer free air freight quotes. Our experts can also help you find the right freight options for your budget and your goals, whether that’s air freight or another mode.

Air freight offers several key advantages for shippers, including:

Fast speeds

Precise timelines

Low fees (a flat $20 fee, in addition to your air freight charges)

Minimal handling

Read more about the advantages of air freight vs. ocean freight.

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