When air freight is the right choice
Air is the fastest way to move goods internationally, but the cost per kilogram is higher than by sea, rail or road. Air cargo pays off when the goods are valuable and the shipment is relatively compact.
In practice, companies choose air freight to Azerbaijan when a best-selling line is running out, when a production line is waiting for a spare part, or when a sample of a new product has to reach a trade show or a client on time.
Do not judge air cargo on the freight rate alone. Every week goods spend in transit is cash tied up outside the business: for high-value goods, faster delivery often pays for itself through leaner stock, fewer lost sales and less risk of missing contractual deadlines.
- urgent spare parts and equipment components
- electronics, accessories and other high-value, low-volume goods
- samples, prototypes and first trial orders
- seasonal goods — the first drop of a clothing or accessories collection
- fashion and trend items with a short shelf life
Express and Economy are speeds, not transport modes
At TuranKargo, the shipping type is about delivery speed: on the China lane Express takes roughly 5–7 days and Economy 25–30 days; from Türkiye Express takes 3–5 days and Economy 10–12 days; from the USA only Express is offered, at 7–10 days. These are estimates, not guarantees.
Which mode the cargo actually travels by — plane, truck, train or ship — is our call, based on the type of goods, urgency and budget. Express does not automatically mean air. If you specifically need air freight, say so in the note on your request and the operator will set out the options and terms in the quote.
Chargeable weight: actual vs volumetric
In air freight you do not just pay for what the scale shows. Space in an aircraft is limited, so light but bulky cartons are charged by volumetric weight — a notional weight calculated from the dimensions of the package.
Whichever is greater, the actual or the volumetric weight, becomes the chargeable weight. For light, bulky goods — cushions, foam, plastic containers — the volumetric weight is almost always the higher figure.
Packing is where you can save: cut out empty space, pack tightly and skip unnecessary outer cartons. When the goods arrive at our warehouse we weigh and measure them and confirm the final amount with you.
If your request lists the number of cartons and the dimensions and weight of each, the operator’s first quote will be much closer to the final amount.
Restricted goods in air cargo
Aviation has the strictest dangerous-goods rules of any mode. Some items are not accepted on board at all, others need special packing, labelling and paperwork. Terms and prices for such cargo are set individually.
If your shipment contains anything from the list below, declare it in your request. An undeclared battery or liquid can get a shipment held in transit or sent back.
- lithium batteries and devices containing them (phones, laptops, power banks, power tools)
- liquids and gels — cosmetics, perfume, cleaning products
- aerosols, paints, adhesives and flammable substances
- strong magnets and parts containing magnets
- goods requiring special inspection — medicines, food, plant and animal products
Air cargo to Baku from China, Türkiye, the USA and Europe
We run our own warehouses in Guangzhou, Istanbul and Wilmington. Your supplier sends the goods there marked with your TK-XXXXXXX customer number; we receive them, measure them and add them to the next outbound shipment. From Europe and other countries, air freight is arranged on individual request: we collect from the supplier or receive the goods at an agreed point.
Small and medium shipments travel consolidated: several customers’ cargo goes on one manifest and you pay only for your own chargeable weight. For large cargo or tight deadlines, a dedicated air shipment can be discussed on request — the operator provides terms and price.
Many importers use a split strategy: the main order moves by sea, rail or road, while the small portion needed to keep sales going flies in. That keeps shelves stocked and overall logistics spend under control.
Documents: AWB, invoice and customs
The core document of any air shipment is the air waybill (AWB). In consolidation there is a master air waybill plus a separate house waybill for each customer; in Azerbaijan we hand the goods over against an internal waybill.
For customs you need a commercial invoice from the supplier (description, quantity, value) and a packing list. On import, 18% VAT is charged on the customs value plus duty, while the duty rate depends on the HS code of the goods; some products also need certificates of conformity or other permits.
On the China, Türkiye and USA lanes we offer Freight + Customs (“Cargo”): we handle clearance and you see one final amount. For cargo from other countries, customs clearance is available as a separate brokerage service on individual terms; with Freight only, you or your broker clear the goods.