What factors affect the timeliness of international air freight?

The timeliness of international air freight is influenced by a combination of multiple factors, which include not only the operational details of the logistics process but also the objective conditions of the external environment. Next, Baiyun Network will provide you with a detailed answer. We hope it will be helpful to everyone.

I. Flight-related factors

Flight type

Direct flights: No transfer required, the fastest delivery time, usually reaching the destination airport within 1 to 3 days (such as direct flights from China to Brussels, Belgium).

Connecting flights: They need to pass through 1-2 transfer stations (such as Dubai, Frankfurt). The delivery time depends on the connection time of the transfer (usually 1-3 days more than direct flights). If the transfer is delayed, the delivery time may be further extended.

Flight density and scheduling

Popular routes (such as those between China and the United States, and between China and Europe) have a high frequency of flights, with 1 to 3 flights per day, ensuring more stable delivery times. Less popular routes may have only 1-2 flights per week, requiring waiting for fixed flights, with significant fluctuations in timeliness.

Airline scheduling adjustments (such as temporary cancellations or flights being merged) may also lead to cargo delays and prolong transportation times.

Ii. Customs clearance efficiency

File integrity

If there are information errors in documents such as customs declaration forms, commercial invoices, packing lists, and certificates of origin (such as inconsistent product names or incorrect amounts), it will cause delays in customs clearance, ranging from 1 to 2 days at the least to over a week at the most.

Special goods (such as electronic products, food, and dangerous goods) require additional approval documents. If the documents are incomplete or do not comply with the regulations of the importing country, the customs clearance time will be significantly increased.

Customs clearance policies of the destination country

The customs clearance efficiency varies greatly among different countries: for instance, the customs clearance process in EU countries is relatively standardized, usually taking 1 to 3 days. In some developing countries, customs clearance may take 5 to 7 days or even longer due to cumbersome procedures and slow manual review.

Holidays or policy changes (such as temporarily strengthening inspections) can also cause delays in customs clearance. For instance, in Europe and America, the pressure of customs clearance is high before the Christmas season, and the processing time may be extended by 3 to 5 days.