What Affects Air Freight Pricing? A Breakdown for Importers

Air freight quotes can vary noticeably between forwarders and between weeks, and it’s rarely because someone is charging more for no reason. A handful of factors genuinely move the price.

Chargeable Weight

As covered in our piece on air freight chargeable weight, pricing is based on whichever is greater: actual or volumetric weight. This alone can shift your quote significantly depending on how your cargo is packed.

Route and Capacity

Direct routes with regular cargo capacity tend to price more predictably than routes that rely on passenger aircraft belly space, which can be limited and more sensitive to demand swings.

Seasonality and Fuel Surcharges

Like sea freight, air freight rates include fuel surcharges that adjust periodically, and demand spikes around peak shipping periods can push rates up temporarily. Because of this volatility, we don’t publish a fixed rate — ask us for a current quote based on your cargo’s actual weight, dimensions, and route.

Frequently Asked Questions

What affects air freight pricing?

See the breakdown above — chargeable weight, route/capacity, and seasonality are the main factors.

What is chargeable weight?

See the guide above for how airlines calculate the weight your shipment is actually billed on.

Why do fuel surcharges change air freight cost?

See the seasonality section above for how surcharges affect pricing.