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Sea Air Cargo Shipments: A Complete Cost & Process Guide
Created on 12.04
Often, logistics chains need more than one mode of transportation for efficient relay of shipments to their destinations. One such hybrid is the sea air cargo shipping service – a multi-modal system combining ocean and air freight.
Our guide will walk you through how shipment forwarders handle the sea-air shipping processes, as well as the expected costs – so you can decide if sea-air freight is the logistic solution you need for your business and budget.
Why Businesses Choose Sea Air Cargo Shipping
The reason why sea air freight exists is that it combines the speed and efficiency of air shipments with the reliability of ocean freights. Businesses can use this method to bypass peak season bottlenecks by sea and then use the airways to complete the last leg of delivery.
While sea-to-air transfer is most common in a standard supply chain setting, some businesses do air to sea. This is often preferred when the destination is a remote area, has no access by air, and for cost control.
The sea-air cargo model offers your business :
· Risk Diversification – Combining these two modes allows you to circumvent the shipment congestion ocean freight always faces. This also overcomes limitations and surcharges that come with using air freight – especially during peak periods.
· Lower Inventory Holding Costs – Quicker delivery means less stock is stored in your warehouse unit. There are great cost savings here, especially if you outsource your warehousing.
· Improved Customer Satisfaction – The faster you get your shipment to your customers, the happier they are. And happy customers build positive brand rapport – fast.
Pros & Cons Of Sea Air Shipping
Like most logistic solutions, the sea-air cargo transport also has its strengths and weaknesses. Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons of opting for this hybrid shipping method :
Pros | Cons |
30%-50% cheaper than full air freights | Increased documentation |
40% faster than sea-only routes | More handling risks |
Less carbon-intensive process | Additional Customs clearance process |
Eases last-minute routing changes | Higher insurance premiums |
Less humidity damage from sea travel | |
Higher capacity and availability |
How Sea-Air Cargo Shipping Works
Although air-to-sea transfers are possible, the commonplace in logistics is a transfer from sea to air. So, here’s the general, step-by-step process of how a sea air cargo transfer happens in the supply chain :
Step 1 : Ocean Freight from Origin Port
Your shipment is packed into containers – often LCL or FCL ones – and carefully loaded onto the shipping vessel with a gantry crane and some manpower. At this step, you’ll need these few documents before the shipment can leave its origin port :
· Bill of Lading (B/L) – A formal contract title stating that the carrier is authorized to transport the shipment on behalf of their customer/freight company.
· Packing List & Commercial Invoice – Details the contents of the cargo for the benefit of Customs personnel who will conduct inspections before the ship leaves.
· Export Declaration – A declaration of the nature of cargo being sent for export. These will need to be prepared according to the origin country’s Customs policies.
Step 2 : Discharge at Hub Port & Unstuffing
At midpoint, your shipment is unloaded at the arrival port with ship-to-shore cranes to be stored at container yards. Unstuffing – removal of goods from their ocean freight containers – happens, and goods are prepared for their air transit.
Key paperwork at this point would be :
· Arrival Notice – The ocean carrier will formally inform shipment arrival at the hub, which means their part is complete and the goods have been completely handed over to the port for the next steps.
· Manifest & Transshipment Request – Lets local Customs know that they’ll need to inspect and clear the contents of the container before it can be air shipped.
· Bonded Storage Authorization – If air transit is not scheduled soon, you will need to authorize goods storage at the hub port. This document becomes a formal contract of the storage arrangement.
Step 3: Transfer to Air Cargo Terminal
When ready for the skies, your goods leave the port’s bonded warehouse for the airport terminal via secured, bonded trucks. At this stage, your shipment may be palletized or organized into ULDs (Unit Load Devices) for easy loading onto the aircraft.
Documents to prepare at this stage are :
· Transfer Note / Gate Pass – An agreement allowing the trucking company to move the cargo from the port’s secure storage to the air terminal’s facility.
· Consolidation Manifest – If the trucking service is transporting multiple cargo loads for the same air leg, they’ll leave a chain of custody detailing a consolidated truck shipment to the air terminal.
Step 4 : Build-Up & Loading For Air Freight
Before being loaded onto the aircraft, your cargo goes through weight and dimension compliance checks. If it passes, they’ll then be loaded into ULD containers or on aircraft pallets to maximize space and balance load. At this point, you’ll see paperwork like :
· Air Waybill (AWB) – This document details your shipment ID during air carriage, its transport route, goods type, and charges involved during the flight.
· Security Declaration – Your shipment will undergo IATA and TSA dictated checks, and this document is proof that it’s safe to transport your cargo by air.
· Dangerous Goods Declaration – If your cargo contains any products marked as dangerous goods, they will need to be packed and labeled as per IATA standards before being flown out.
Step 5 : Arrival & Last-Mile Delivery
Once it arrives at the destination air terminal, your cargo is removed from its pallets and ULDS to be verified against its AWB. Once released from bonded storage, it’s passed on for Customs clearance. If cleared, your cargo continues by truck to your warehouses or distribution centers.
Paperwork to expect at this final stage include :
· Customs Entry / Import Declaration – This informs the destination country of the volume and nature of goods brought into its borders.
· Delivery Order – Specifies the final delivery destination to the trucking service provider, after all Customs processes have been completed.
· Proof of Delivery (POD) – At your warehouse/distribution entity, a representative receives goods on your company’s behalf, completing the sea air cargo transport process.
How Much Does Sea-Air Cargo Transport Cost?
Sea air shipping costs are dynamic – they depend on various factors like routes, weight, volume, and seasonal market movement. The common practice is to combine the costs of the ocean freight leg, costs of handling at the hub port, charges surrounding the final air transport, and last-mile delivery fees.
Here’s how they’re calculated :
Ocean Freight Leg
Sea transport costs are measured by considering these few factors :
· Base costs of an FCL or LCL load
· Fuel surcharges
· Origin port handling costs.
Typically, FCL loads cost you anywhere between US$1,000 – US$2,500. LCL loads are weighted by cubic meter (CBM) – rates start between US$30 – US$60 for every CBM.
Hub Handling Charges
Costs at the hub port cover :
· Manpower for unstuffing
· Bonded storage fees
· Customs handling and inspection
· Transfer to the air terminal
On average, hub ports charge anywhere between US$150 – US$300 per shipment. However, this may vary if your shipment doesn’t fall into the dry goods category.
Air Freight Leg
Airlines charge shipments with a simple formula calculating total volumetric weight. Once they have the value, your charges will be determined based on the range where the weight falls. Averages are :
· 0–100 kg – US$4.50 – US$7.00/kg
· 101–300 kg – US$3.80 – US$6.00/kg
· 301+ kg – US$3.00 – US$5.00/kg
Again, the true cost will be at the discretion of your air carrier. The air freight costs take into consideration airport handling, fuel surcharge, and security inspections.
Last-Mile Delivery
The final trucking cost covers route, distance, Customs clearance, and door-to-door delivery. You may see inflated costs if there is an intermediate need for warehousing and rail freight. On average, costs look like this :
· Short Distance (within 50–100 miles) – US$200 – US$500/load
· Long Distance (cross-state or cross-country) – US$800 – US$2,000, depending on total mileage.
· Liftgate or Residential Delivery – An additional US$75 – US$150.
· Inside Delivery or Unpacking – An additional US$100 – US$200.
Example Cost Calculation of Sea Air Cargo
Say you have a 500 kg shipment (2 CBM) being transported through the Shanghai → Dubai → New York route :
1. Ocean Freight (LCL) – US$80, if rates are US$40 per CBM
2. Hub Handling – US$250
3. Air Freight – US$1,900, if rates are US$ 3.80 per kg
4. Last Mile – US$300
Total: ~$2,530 (≈ 30–40% cheaper than pure air freight)
Cost-Effective & Efficient Sea Air Cargo Transfer With Dafey
Sea-air cargo is the choice logistical solution for most businesses that prioritize speed while managing to be budget-compliant. At Dafey, we’ve handled countless sea-air cargoes – from start to finish. So, why not let us handle it for you? Call us – and our specialists will assist with a shipment for your sea air cargo.
FAQ
1) Does Dafey handle sea to air cargo transshipment?
Yes, we do. Whether it’s air to ocean or vice versa, our specialists and freight techs are fully trained to handle logistics both ways.
2) How do tracking and visibility work across these two transport modes?
During the ocean leg, you can track your shipment by the Bill of Lading (B/L) number or Container ID on carrier websites or global platforms like TrackTrace, SeaRates, and INTTRA. Once on a flight, you can monitor shipment through the AWB via airline portals or platforms like CargoTrack.
3) What happens in case of delays or port congestion?
In case of port overcrowding and delays mid-transit, you’ll have 3 options :
· Switch from standard to express air cargo while goods are in hub storage.
· Redirect cargo to an alternative sea-air hub before customs clearance is finalized.
· For extreme delays, convert the air leg to rail or trucking (if allowed) to reduce your downtime.
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