What is the difference between an air waybill and a bill of lading?

An air waybill (AWB) is the contract of carriage for air cargo. Unlike an ocean bill of lading it is not a document of title, so cargo is released to the named consignee without surrendering an original. That makes air shipments faster to release and unsuitable for letter of credit sales that rely on holding title.

Can I send small parcels by air freight instead of courier?

Below about 30 kg a courier is usually cheaper and simpler because it includes customs and delivery in one price. Air freight starts to win from roughly 45 kg, and clearly wins above 100 kg. We quote both when a shipment sits in that range.

Which Indian airports does QShip ship from?

Delhi (DEL) for most of our customers, with Mumbai (BOM) and Bengaluru (BLR) for cargo originating in the west and south. Delhi has direct freighter and widebody passenger capacity to Europe, the Gulf and the US East Coast, which keeps transit times short and rates competitive.

Does QShip handle DDP air shipments to the USA?

Yes. A US customs broker files the entry, we pay the duty and any merchandise processing fee on your behalf, and the cargo is delivered to the address or fulfilment centre. Formal entries above USD 2,500 need a continuous or single-entry bond, which we arrange.

How is air cargo tracked?

Every shipment gets a QShip tracking number that shows each status from pickup to delivery on this site. The air waybill number also works on the airline's own tracking page, which shows the flight and the arrival scan at the destination airport.

Air cargo, airport to airport and door to door

Air Freight

Air freight moves cargo in the hold of passenger or freighter aircraft, airport to airport in one to three days and door to door in three to seven. QShip books space from Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM) and Bengaluru (BLR), files export customs, and clears and delivers at the destination. It is priced on chargeable weight.

Get a Quote +91-1141061711

What is chargeable weight and how is it calculated?

Airlines charge on whichever is greater: the actual weight of the shipment, or its volumetric weight. Volumetric weight is the volume in cubic centimetres divided by 6,000. A carton measuring 60 by 40 by 40 cm has a volumetric weight of 16 kg, so if it actually weighs 9 kg you pay for 16. Light, bulky goods are always charged on volume.

Chargeable weight examples
Cargo	Actual weight	Volumetric weight	Charged on
10 cartons of cotton garments, 60 x 40 x 40 cm	90 kg	160 kg	160 kg volumetric
Two cartons of brass fittings, 40 x 30 x 30 cm	58 kg	12 kg	58 kg actual
One pallet of home decor, 120 x 100 x 120 cm	210 kg	240 kg	240 kg volumetric

Rates fall in weight breaks, commonly at 45, 100, 300, 500 and 1,000 kg. A 280 kg shipment is sometimes cheaper billed as 300 kg at the lower rate, and we check that on every quote.

How long does air freight from India take?

Flight time is a day or less. The rest is handling: acceptance and screening at origin, transit if the routing is not direct, and customs at destination. Consolidated (deferred) services are cheaper and a day or two slower than direct airline bookings.

Typical door-to-door times from Delhi
Destination	Airport to airport	Door to door
Dubai (DXB)	Same day to 1 day	2 to 3 days
London (LHR)	1 to 2 days	3 to 5 days
Frankfurt or Amsterdam	1 to 2 days	3 to 5 days
New York (JFK)	1 to 3 days	4 to 6 days
Los Angeles (LAX)	2 to 3 days	5 to 7 days

What documents does an air export from India need?

Commercial invoice and packing list with HS codes, weights and dimensions per piece
Shipping bill filed on ICEGATE against your IEC and AD code
Air waybill, issued by the airline or the consolidator's house air waybill
Security declaration and screening under the BCAS Regulated Agent programme
MSDS and dangerous goods declaration for batteries, aerosols, perfumes and similar
Certificate of origin or GSP form where the buyer claims a duty preference

When does air freight beat ocean freight?

Consignments under about two CBM or 300 kg, where LCL destination charges outweigh the air premium
Restocking a marketplace listing that is about to run out of inventory
Samples, prototypes and first orders where a buyer is waiting
High-value goods where six weeks of working capital at sea costs more than the freight difference
Perishables and seasonal stock with a fixed selling window

Above about 500 kg the arithmetic usually turns. A 40 ft container of garments costs a fraction of the air freight for the same goods, and if the sailing fits the sales calendar, sea wins.

Direct airline booking or consolidation?

A direct booking puts your cargo on a master air waybill in your name on a specific flight. A consolidation groups several shippers under one master air waybill with house air waybills for each, and the consolidator's volume buys a lower rate. For most e-commerce replenishment, consolidation is the sensible default. For a launch deadline, direct is worth the premium.

How does a air freight booking work with QShip?

1
Send piece dimensions and weights
Per carton or pallet, plus commodity and destination. We calculate chargeable weight and quote at the right weight break.
2
Book the flight
Direct or consolidated, with the acceptance cut-off at the air cargo terminal confirmed to you.
3
Pick up and screen
Cargo is collected, screened under the Regulated Agent scheme and tendered to the airline.
4
File customs and fly
Shipping bill cleared at the air cargo complex, air waybill issued, flight departs.
5
Clear at destination
Entry filed on arrival, duty paid on DDP terms, cargo released from the import shed.
6
Deliver
Last-mile delivery to your address, a 3PL or a fulfilment centre with an appointment where required.

Questions customers ask

Transit times, charges and document requirements on this page were last reviewed on 5 September 2026.