Flexible Solutions for All Budgets

Domestic & International Air Freight

With access to an extensive global network of routes and air freight carriers, Approved can get your cargo wherever it needs to go—fast. Because we’re not tied down by set contracts or allotments, we can deliver the most flexible air freight solutions available. We also offer door-to-door air freight solutions that will save you significant time and hassle. We offer air freight to all major islands in Hawaii and have teams and terminals to provide a door-to-door service. We can also ship air freight to Puerto Rico, Guam, and internationally. Our air freight services our designed to save you significant time and hassle.

Your Air Freight Shipping Company for Service to Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, or International Destinations

When you need to move cargo quickly—or on a precise timeline—look to Approved. Our air freight specialists have access to an extensive global network of routes and carriers. We can help you move cargo cargo internationally, to Puerto Rico, Guam, or Hawaii, with a full menu of air freight speeds and schedules to choose from.

We can book your air freight cargo at all service levels, including:

  • Air Charter Service
  • Part Charter Service
  • First Flight Out Service
  • Express Air Freight Service
  • Standard Air Freight Service
  • Deferred Air Freight Service
  • Consolidated Air Freight Service

Your Air Freight Shipping Company for Service to Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, or International Destinations

When you need to move cargo quickly—or on a precise timeline—look to
Approved. Our air freight specialists have access to an extensive global
network of routes and carriers. We can help you move cargo cargo internationally, to Puerto Rico, Guam, or Hawaii, with a full menu of air freight speeds and schedules to choose from.

We can book your air freight cargo at all service levels, including:

  • Air Charter Service
  • Part Charter Service
  • First Flight Out Service
  • Express Air Freight Service
  • Standard Air Freight Service
  • Deferred Air Freight Service
  • Consolidated Air Freight Service

What types of air freight services are available?

Pick Up & Delivery

Global Carrier Network

Warehousing & Distribution

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Complete Air Freight Solutions That Save You Time and Money

Air Freight to Hawaii

When you need to send cargo quickly to Hawaii, calling UPS, FedEx, or DHL might feel easy. However, these types of carriers have limitations—especially when shipping items to Hawaii. As an indirect air carrier to Hawaii, we can access more routes, more scheduled flights, and cheaper rates.

Air Freight to Puerto Rico

Shipping air freight to Puerto Rico is best when you need speed and efficiency. We have the knowledge, partnerships, and resources to get your air cargo where it needs to go on your timeline. We can also help with Hacienda clearance, customs regulations, and documentation requirements for air freight shipments to Puerto Rico.

Air Freight to Guam

When you need to get cargo to Guam fast, air freight is your best option. Air freight will move your cargo to Guam in as little as a few days and with the added benefit of minimal handling. Read our comprehensive guide about everything you need to know about Guam air freight.

International Air Freight

We understand that each shipment is unique. Our international freight experts 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. Looking to ship retail? Here are five ways air freight can help retailers.

The Advantages of Air Freight: Faster Speeds, Reduced Handling

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.

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.

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.

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.

By leveraging a network of global partners, Approved has access to a wide variety of routes, schedules, and carriers to offer you maximum flexibility. Additionally, we can arrange for a door-to-door solution that eliminates any airport runs on your part. Get started with a free quote today:

Get a free air freight quote

Frequently Asked Questions About Air Freight

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.

We can pick up freight anywhere in the continental U.S. and move it to Puerto Rico for you. Below, you’ll find a few sample transit times to San Juan:

Approximate Transit Time to San Juan

  • Jacksonville, FL – 3 days
  • Miami, FL – 4 days
  • New York, NY – 7 days
  • Chicago, IL – 10 days
  • Los Angeles, CA – 18 days

Keep in mind that transit time is simply the time it takes a boat to go from one port to another. Every steamship line has a cut-off for receiving freight, which is a few days prior to the actual sail date.

Additionally, it can take a few days for freight to be unloaded and delivered after freight is made available at the port.

To get a full picture of how long it will take your container to get to Puerto Rico, you’ll need to add a few days on either end of the transit time.

Reach out to us, and we’ll get you a precise timeline for your shipment.

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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