Air freight guide
Air Freight Guide: Airports, Cost, Volumetric Weight & Documentation
Air Freight Guide
Air freight is the right choice when transit time matters more than sea or land — for time-sensitive, high-value, or urgency-driven cargo that must move quickly through the supply chain.
This guide covers what international shippers need before booking air freight: entry airports (including lanes serving Syria), cost calculation, volumetric weight, cargo types, and documentation.
What Is Air Freight to Syria?
Air freight to Syria is the transport of goods by aircraft from the origin country's airport or an international transit airport to an airport inside Syria — or to a nearby regional airport with onward land transport to the final destination within Syria when needed.
The choice of air freight depends on a combination of factors, most notably:
- Nature of the goods
- Degree of urgency
- Weight and volume
- Country of origin
- Availability of flights and routes
- Airline carrier requirements
- Documentation readiness
- Customs clearance requirements at the destination country
- Availability of inland delivery after customs release
Air freight is therefore not evaluated solely on flight speed, but on the entire shipment cycle — from pickup at the supplier through to final delivery.
When Is Air Freight the Best Option?
Air freight is the right choice in the following situations:
- When goods are urgent and cannot tolerate long transit times
- When the value of the goods is high relative to their weight or volume
- When shipping commercial samples, documents, or small parts
- When there is a firm deadline with a client or project
- When rapid replenishment is needed to avoid production or sales downtime
- When shipping sensitive products that require careful handling
- When shipping seasonal goods tied to a specific sales date
If the shipment is large in volume, low in value, or does not require high speed, sea or land freight may be more cost-effective.
Entry Airports for Air Freight to Syria
Air entry options into Syria vary depending on flight availability, acceptance of commercial cargo, airline carrier instructions, and the requirements of the relevant authorities at the time of shipment.
Damascus International Airport DAM
- Damascus International Airport is one of the most important air entry options into Syria when the route is available and operational acceptance of commercial cargo is confirmed
This option is suitable for shipments destined for:
- Damascus
- Rural Damascus
- Daraa
- As-Suwayda
- Homs
- Cities in central and southern Syria based on the inland transport plan
- Aleppo International Airport ALP
- Aleppo International Airport is an important option for shipments heading to northern Syria when the route is available and commercial cargo acceptance is confirmed
This option is suitable for shipments destined for:
- Aleppo
- Idlib based on inland transport feasibility
- Hama
- Northern Syria regions
- Some eastern destinations based on the operational plan
- Latakia Airport LTK
Latakia Airport can be considered as a potential option for shipments heading to the Syrian coast, but route availability and commercial cargo acceptance must be verified before including it in any price quote.
This option is suitable when available for shipments destined for:
- Latakia
- Tartus
- Jableh
- Baniyas
- Some Syrian coastal destinations
Regional Air Options with Final Land Transport
In some cases, the practical option may be for the shipment to arrive at a nearby regional airport and then complete transit by land into Syria, depending on flight availability, the nature of the goods, and the final cost.
These options may include, depending on operational conditions:
- Beirut BEY then land transport to Syria
- Amman AMM then land transport via Jordan to Syria
- Istanbul IST or suitable Turkish airports then land transport to northern Syria
- Dubai DXB or Sharjah SHJ as air hub connections before final delivery
This model is chosen when a direct route to Syria is unavailable, or when the regional route is more efficient in terms of time, cost, or capacity availability.
Inland Delivery After Shipment Arrival
- After the shipment arrives at the airport and customs clearance procedures are completed, inland transport to the final destination city is coordinated
The following transit times are approximate and begin after customs release; they do not include clearance time, waiting periods, or inspection:
Destination Within Syria
- Most suitable airport (general)
- Approximate inland transit time
- Damascus
- Damascus Airport DAM
- Within the city / depending on delivery point
- Rural Damascus
- Damascus Airport DAM
- 30 minutes – 2 hours
- Daraa
- Damascus Airport DAM
- 1.5 – 2.5 hours
- As-Suwayda
- Damascus Airport DAM
- 2 – 3 hours
- Homs
- Damascus Airport DAM
- 2 – 3 hours
- Hama
- Aleppo Airport ALP or Damascus DAM
- 2 – 4 hours depending on route
- Aleppo
- Aleppo Airport ALP
- Within the city / depending on delivery point
- Tartus
- Latakia Airport LTK when available
- Approximately 1 – 1.5 hours
- Latakia
- Latakia Airport LTK when available
- Within the city / depending on delivery point
Operational note: Inland delivery times may vary due to road conditions, warehouse location, customs release timing, and the type of truck required for final delivery.
Types of Air Cargo to Syria
- Air freight requirements vary depending on the nature of the goods, their volume, sensitivity, and the airline carrier's requirements
- 1. General Cargo
- Includes non-hazardous goods that do not require special handling conditions
Examples:
- Clothing
- Accessories
- Spare parts
- Packaged commercial products
- General tools and supplies
- Some unrestricted equipment
- This type of cargo is the most common and is generally priced based on chargeable weight
- 2. Express / Priority Cargo
- Suitable for shipments requiring higher priority in handling and booking
Examples:
- Commercial samples
- Documents
- Urgent spare parts
- Goods tied to a near delivery deadline
- Small high-importance shipments
- This option does not always mean the lowest cost, but it may be the most appropriate when a critical time factor is involved
- 3. Special Cargo
- Includes shipments requiring extra care in packaging, handling, or documentation
Examples:
- Sensitive equipment
- Electronic devices
- High-value goods
- Fragile products
- Shipments requiring special securing
- Before accepting this type of cargo, packaging, value, dimensions, and required handling method are reviewed
- 4. Refrigerated or Temperature-Sensitive Cargo
- Suitable for goods that require a specific temperature range during transport
Examples:
- Certain food products
- Medical samples
- Pharmaceutical products
- Materials requiring heat protection
- Products requiring a cold chain
- This type requires specifying the required temperature range, transit duration, packaging type, and handling conditions before booking
- 5. Dangerous Goods
Includes goods that may be subject to special requirements in air transport, such as certain chemicals, batteries, liquids, gases, or products carrying a UN number.
Before accepting this type of cargo, the following must be reviewed:
- Safety Data Sheet SDS / MSDS
- UN number if applicable
- Goods classification
- Packaging method
- Warning labels
- Acceptance eligibility by the airline carrier
- Whether permitted on passenger aircraft or cargo-only aircraft
- 6. Project Cargo
- Includes shipments requiring special coordination due to size, value, or nature of use
Examples:
- Industrial equipment
- Machinery for operational projects
- Large or irregularly shaped pieces
- Shipments requiring special scheduling
- Goods that cannot be handled as standard parcels
- This type is assessed based on weight, dimensions, loading point, destination, and required handling method
How Is Air Freight Cost Calculated?
Air freight cost is generally calculated based on the chargeable weight, which is the higher of:
Actual Weight
Volumetric Weight
What Is Actual Weight?
- Actual weight is the weight of the shipment on the scale, including the goods and all packaging
What Is Volumetric Weight?
Volumetric weight is a calculated weight based on the shipment's size, because some shipments are light but occupy a large amount of space inside the aircraft.
Volumetric Weight Formula in Air Freight
Volumetric Weight (kg) = Length × Width × Height (cm) ÷ 6000
Example:
If you have a package with the following dimensions:
- Length: 100 cm
- Width: 60 cm
- Height: 50 cm
Then the volumetric weight is:
- 100 × 60 × 50 ÷ 6000 = 50 kg
- If the actual weight of the package is 35 kg, the price is calculated on 50 kg because the volumetric weight is higher
- If the actual weight is 70 kg, the price is calculated on 70 kg because the actual weight is higher
Factors That Affect Air Freight Rates to Syria
There is no fixed cost for air freight to Syria, as the rate changes based on several operational and commercial factors, including:
- Country and airport of origin
- Destination airport or transit airport
- Actual weight
- Volumetric weight
- Chargeable weight
- Type of goods
- Value of goods
- Type of packaging
- Stackability
- Need for refrigeration
- Need for special handling
- Presence of batteries or chemicals
- Cargo space availability with the airline carrier
- Number of available flights
- Customs clearance requirements
- Need for inland delivery after arrival
- Required level of urgency
It is therefore essential to provide the shipping team with the weight, dimensions, number of packages, and nature of the goods before requesting a quote — as any missing data may result in cost differences at execution.
Information Required for an Accurate Quote
To receive a clear air freight quote, it is recommended to prepare the following details:
- Country and airport or city of origin
- Final Syrian city for delivery
- Type of goods
- Number of packages
- Weight of each package
- Dimensions of each package
- Total weight
- Photos of the goods or packaging if available
- Commercial invoice if available
- Packing list if available
Do the goods contain batteries?
Are the goods liquid or chemical?
Do they require refrigeration?
Is there a specific delivery deadline?
Is the service airport-to-airport or door-to-door?
- The clearer the data provided, the more accurate the quote — and the more efficient the booking and clearance process
Required Documents for Air Freight to Syria
Required documents vary depending on the type of goods, country of origin, country of departure, and the relevant authorities. However, they generally include:
- 1. Air Waybill AWB
The Air Waybill is the primary transport document in air freight. It contains details of the shipper, consignee, carrier, goods description, weight, and number of packages.
- 2. Commercial Invoice
- States the commercial value of the goods, their description, quantity, currency, buyer and seller details, and sale terms if applicable
- 3. Packing List
- Details the number of packages, type of packaging, net weight, gross weight, dimensions, and distribution of goods
- 4. Certificate of Origin
- Indicates the country of origin of the goods; may be required depending on product type and customs requirements
- 5. HS Code
- Helps determine the customs classification, applicable duties, restrictions, and required approvals
- 6. Special Approvals or Certificates
May be required for certain types of goods, such as:
- Food products
- Medical products
- Electrical appliances
- Chemical materials
- Cosmetics
- Agricultural products
- Devices containing batteries
- 7. Safety Data Sheet SDS / MSDS
- Required when the shipment contains chemicals, liquids, batteries, gases, or any goods that may be subject to air transport regulations for hazardous materials
Air Freight vs. Sea Freight to Syria
| Factor | Air Freight | Sea Freight |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Generally faster | Generally slower |
| Cost | Higher in most cases | Lower for large shipments |
| Best suited for | Urgent and high-value shipments | Containers and large-volume shipments |
| Calculation method | Actual or volumetric weight | Container, volume, weight, port fees |
| Flexibility | Suitable for small to medium shipments | Suitable for large commercial volumes |
| Documents | AWB, invoice, packing list, approvals | B/L, invoice, packing list, certificate of origin |
- Choosing a shipping method does not depend solely on price, but on the balance between time, cost, shipment size, and market requirements
Air Freight Steps with Across MENA
Step 1: Review Shipment Data
- Goods data, weight, dimensions, number of packages, country of origin, and the required Syrian destination city are collected
- Step 2: Identify the Most Suitable Route
- The available air route is evaluated — whether direct to Syria or via a regional airport with final land transport
- Step 3: Calculate Chargeable Weight
- Actual weight and volumetric weight are calculated, and the higher value is used for pricing
- Step 4: Review Documentation
- The commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, and any special documents based on the type of goods are reviewed
- Step 5: Submit a Price Quote
- A price quote is provided based on the route, chargeable weight, nature of the goods, and delivery requirements
- Step 6: Booking and Follow-Up
- After booking confirmation, shipment pickup is coordinated, the transport document is issued, cargo movement is tracked, and customs clearance and inland delivery are arranged
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Air Freight
- Relying solely on actual weight without calculating volumetric weight
- Submitting inaccurate package dimensions
- Failing to disclose batteries inside devices
- Not providing SDS / MSDS for chemical materials
- Mismatch between the commercial invoice and the goods description
- Using inadequate or unsuitable packaging for air handling
- Failing to mention refrigeration or thermal protection requirements
- Requesting a quote without specifying the final delivery city
- Not reviewing customs restrictions before shipping
- Avoiding these mistakes helps reduce the likelihood of delays, cost discrepancies, or carrier rejection of the shipment
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Freight to Syria
What is the fastest way to ship goods to Syria?
Air freight is generally the fastest option compared to sea or land transport, but the final delivery time depends on flight availability, customs clearance, and inland delivery.
How is the air freight rate calculated?
The rate is generally calculated based on the chargeable weight, which is the higher of the actual weight and the volumetric weight.
What is the volumetric weight formula in air freight?
Volumetric Weight = Length × Width × Height (cm) ÷ 6000
Can goods containing batteries be shipped by air?
- Yes, in some cases — but the battery type, packaging method, safety documentation, and airline carrier acceptance must all be reviewed first
Can food products be shipped by air to Syria?
- Some food products can be shipped by air, but they may require health certificates or additional approvals depending on the product type and country of origin
Can refrigerated goods be shipped by air?
- Yes, but the required temperature range, packaging type, and transit duration must be specified before booking
Is air freight suitable for large shipments?
Air freight can be used for some large or urgent shipments, but the cost is generally higher. Feasibility is therefore assessed based on weight, volume, and commercial value.
What are the essential documents for air freight?
They generally include the Air Waybill AWB, commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, and HS Code — in addition to any special approvals required based on the type of goods.
Can delivery be arranged from the airport to the consignee's door within Syria?
- Inland delivery can be coordinated after customs release depending on the city, type of goods, and delivery requirements
Book Your Air Shipment to Syria
If you have an air shipment to Syria, the Across MENA team can assist you in identifying the most suitable route, calculating the chargeable weight, reviewing documentation, and providing an accurate quote based on your shipment data.
- Send us your shipment details now and we will help you find the most suitable air solution in terms of timing, cost, and operational requirements