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IATA accredited · TSA-approved indirect air carrier

Air freight from Newark, Dulles and airports across the US

Urgent, high-value and time-critical cargo from Newark, Dulles and airports across the US to the Gulf, Asia and 193+ countries. We book space with the airlines, pick up with TSA-approved truckers and file every export document.

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  • IATA accredited
  • TSA-approved IAC
  • IAD · EWR · US-wide
  • Airport or door to door
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Shipping mode

Step 1 of 5 · about 2 minutes

Carriers and lines we work with

  • Turkish Airlines
  • Etihad Airways
  • Ethiopian Airlines
  • Royal Jordanian
  • EgyptAir
  • PIA (Pakistan International Airlines)
  • Saudia
  • Emirates
  • Qatar Airways
  • Lufthansa
  • British Airways
  • Air France
  • KLM
  • United Airlines
  • American Airlines
  • Delta Air Lines
  • Cathay Pacific
  • Singapore Airlines
  • Korean Air
  • Cargolux
  • China Airlines
  • Air India
  • Maersk
  • CMA CGM
  • Hapag-Lloyd
  • Arkas
  • MSC
  • Evergreen Line
  • Wan Hai Lines
  • COSCO Shipping
  • Ocean Network Express (ONE)
  • OOCL
  • HMM
  • ZIM
  • Yang Ming
  • PIL (Pacific International Lines)

Departure airports

Our two main gateways, and every major US airport.

We pick the airport by airline, routing and where your cargo is. Pickups anywhere in the US are trucked to the right one.

  • Washington Dulles (IAD)

    For cargo from Virginia, Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic. Our team tenders Gulf-bound air cargo at the Dulles airline warehouses regularly.

  • Newark Liberty (EWR)

    The major airport closest to our Green Brook office, for pickups across New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania.

  • Airports across the US

    O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, Cincinnati and New York JFK. When the cargo is far from New Jersey, we book it from the airport closest to it.

Airlines

Airlines we book.

These are the airlines on our own air files. Each one connects through its home hub, which is why they suit the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.

  • Etihad

    Through Abu Dhabi, for the UAE, the Gulf and onward to Asia.

  • Saudia

    Through Jeddah and Riyadh, for Saudi Arabia and the region.

  • EgyptAir

    Through Cairo, for Egypt, North Africa and the Middle East.

  • Royal Jordanian

    Through Amman, for Jordan, Iraq and the Levant.

  • Turkish

    Through Istanbul, for Türkiye, Central Asia, the Gulf and beyond.

  • Ethiopian

    Through Addis Ababa, for Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

  • PIA

    For Pakistan, including Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

  • Other routings

    When another airline or a consolidation has the better space, routing or price, we book that and tell you why.

Gulf routing

The Strait of Hormuz is restricted. Containers to the Gulf now route via Khor Fakkan, Fujairah, Sohar or Jeddah, which adds time. Air avoids the sea detour, so urgent Gulf cargo moves by air. Gulf shipping guide

Cargo jet on a runway in an orange haze
1 m³ = about 167 kgIATA volume divisor 6,000

Chargeable weight

Airlines charge by weight or by space, whichever is higher.

Every air quote starts with the chargeable weight. The airline compares the actual gross weight with the volume weight, and charges the higher of the two.

Volume weight is length × width × height in centimeters, divided by 6,000. A pallet of 120 × 100 × 120 cm that weighs 150 kg has a volume of 1.44 m³ and a volume weight of 240 kg, so it is charged at 240 kg. Dense cargo such as machinery parts is usually charged on actual weight. Light, bulky cargo is charged on volume.

Accurate dimensions keep the quote close to the final invoice. Measure the cargo as packed, pallet included.

Chargeable weight calculatorGet an air quote
Aircraft tail fin against a clear blue sky
TSA-approved indirect air carrierScreened, documented and tendered

Screening and security

Screening and security handled before your cargo reaches the airline.

TSA requires cargo on passenger aircraft departing the US to be screened before it is loaded. As a TSA-approved indirect air carrier, VCS follows a TSA security program for every step between your dock and the airline.

We check the shipper against TSA's Known Shipper Management System, book the pickup with a TSA-approved trucker and deliver the cargo with its air waybill, labels and security paperwork, ready to be screened and tendered.

  • Known shipper check before pickup
  • Pickup by a TSA-approved trucker
  • AES / ITN, air waybill and labels prepared in-house
  • Dangerous goods checked with the airline before booking

What we fly

Urgent, high-value and time-critical cargo.

Air costs more than ocean, so it earns its place when time or value matter. These are the shipments we move by air.

  • Time-critical freight

    A missed deadline, a production line waiting, a project behind schedule. We book the first sensible flight and keep you posted until delivery.

  • Spare parts and machinery

    Spare parts and machinery components to Asia and the Gulf when a vessel would take too long. See our Asia shipping guide.

  • High-value cargo

    Electronics, medical devices and commercial equipment, packed and documented with the certificates the destination requires.

  • Documents and small parcels

    Courier service for documents and small parcels, including attested papers that have to arrive before the cargo.

  • Gulf shipments

    With sea routings to the Gulf running longer, air keeps urgent cargo for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait on schedule.

  • Air imports

    Air imports into Newark, Dulles, JFK and other US airports, with customs clearance and delivery from the airport to your door.

How an air export works

From pickup to pre-alert.

The checklist our air team works through on every export file.

  1. Step 1

    Quote and booking

    You send the pieces, weights, dimensions and ready date. We confirm the price and book space with the airline.

  2. Step 2

    Documents

    You send the commercial invoice, packing list and shipper's letter of instruction. We file the AES / ITN and send the air waybill draft for your approval.

  3. Step 3

    Pickup

    A TSA-approved trucker collects the cargo and delivers it to the airline warehouse at the departure airport.

  4. Step 4

    Screened and tendered

    The cargo is screened and tendered to the airline before the cut-off, with labels, air waybill and security paperwork.

  5. Step 5

    Flight and pre-alert

    We send the pre-alert to your consignee or agent and update you on movements until the cargo is delivered.

Freight calculators

Work out the chargeable weight before you ask.

Free to use, no sign-up. Size your shipment, then send it to us for a real price.

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Questions

Air freight questions

Which airports do you ship from?
Most of our air exports leave from Washington Dulles (IAD) and Newark Liberty (EWR). We also book from Chicago O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, Cincinnati, New York JFK and other US airports when that suits the cargo. Cargo anywhere in the US can be trucked to the airport that gives the best routing, and we arrange the pickup with a TSA-approved trucker.
How is air freight chargeable weight calculated?
Airlines charge the higher of the actual gross weight and the volume weight. Volume weight is length × width × height in centimeters divided by 6,000, which works out to about 167 kg per cubic meter. A 120 × 100 × 120 cm pallet weighing 150 kg has a volume weight of 240 kg, so you pay for 240 kg. Our chargeable weight calculator does the sum for several pieces at once.
Does my cargo need to be screened?
Yes. TSA requires cargo flying on passenger aircraft from the US to be screened before loading. As a TSA-approved indirect air carrier we check the shipper against TSA's Known Shipper Management System, use TSA-approved truckers for pickup, and tender the cargo for screening with the security paperwork in order.
Which airlines do you book?
We book with Etihad, Saudia, EgyptAir, Royal Jordanian, Turkish, Ethiopian, PIA and Royal Air Maroc, among others. We choose the airline by routing, space, cargo type and price for each shipment.
Can you ship dangerous goods by air?
Some dangerous goods can fly, with the right packing, labels and a shipper's declaration, and only when the airline accepts them. Tell us about batteries, chemicals, aerosols or anything flammable when you ask for a quote, and include the safety data sheet, so we can check acceptance before we book.
How long does air freight take?
It depends on the airline, the routing and how often it flies to your destination. We give you the flight options with each quote. Call us on (908) 440-0999 for current schedules.
Can you fly cargo into the Gulf while the Strait of Hormuz is restricted?
Yes. Air cargo does not need the sea route, so urgent Gulf shipments can move by air while containers route via Khor Fakkan, Fujairah, Sohar or Jeddah. See shipping to the UAE and shipping to Saudi Arabia.
Do you handle air imports into the US?
Yes. We handle air imports into Newark, Dulles, JFK and other US airports, including customs clearance and delivery from the airport to your door.

Still have a question? Call (908) 440-0999 or email [email protected].

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Need it there fast?

Send the pieces, weights, dimensions and destination. We come back with flight options and a price, checked against current airline rates.

  • Ocean, air, trucking and vehicles
  • No obligation, no sign-up
  • Cargo released within 60 minutes of payment
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