AK ConsultingπŸ‡ΏπŸ‡¦
All servicesAir Freight

Air freight to South Africa when every hour counts.

Time-critical and high-value cargo moved on schedule. Airline bookings, airway bill management, IATA compliance and customs pre-clearance β€” all handled by one accountable team.

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4
Origin regions
3
SA airports served
24–72h
Typical transit times
IATA
Certified dangerous goods
Origin airports

Where we move air cargo from.

Confirmed space and competitive rates on the world's major routes into South Africa.

China & Far East

Shanghai (PVG) Β· Beijing (PEK) Β· Hong Kong (HKG) Β· Shenzhen (SZX)

Direct and connecting flights via Middle East hubs. Strong for electronics, garments and manufacturing spares.

Europe

Frankfurt (FRA) Β· Amsterdam (AMS) Β· London (LHR) Β· Paris (CDG)

Frequent direct services to Johannesburg. Best transit times of any long-haul corridor.

Middle East

Dubai (DXB) Β· Doha (DOH) Β· Abu Dhabi (AUH)

Major transhipment hubs for Far East and Asian cargo. Strong frequency and competitive rates.

Americas

New York (JFK) Β· Miami (MIA) Β· Los Angeles (LAX)

Connecting services via European and Middle East hubs. Ideal for pharmaceutical and high-value cargo.

What we move

Cargo types we handle by air.

From a single urgent spare to temperature-controlled pharma shipments β€” air freight is the right tool when urgency or value justifies the cost.

Time-critical cargo

Production stoppages, urgent spares, missed sea freight. When waiting for the next vessel isn't an option.

High-value goods

Electronics, precision instruments, luxury goods. Air freight's security and handling standards reduce risk on valuable consignments.

Pharmaceuticals & perishables

Temperature-controlled and cold-chain cargo handled with IATA-compliant procedures throughout.

Dangerous goods

Lithium batteries, chemicals and restricted items β€” classified, packed and declared correctly under IATA DGR.

Samples & small volumes

When LCL ocean groupage is too slow and a full air charter is too large. We match the right service to the size.

Charter & out-of-gauge

Oversized or urgent cargo that can't fit scheduled services. We arrange charter solutions when standard options fall short.

End-to-end scope

What we manage on every air shipment.

From confirmed airline space to your warehouse door β€” one team, zero handoffs you have to manage yourself.

01

Airline booking & space

Rate negotiation and confirmed space on the right carrier for your timeline and cargo type β€” not just the cheapest available option.

02

Airway Bill management

Master and House AWB issued correctly. Instructions to the airline at origin match exactly what customs sees at destination.

03

IATA dangerous goods compliance

We classify, document and ensure correct packing for any restricted or hazardous cargo before it reaches the airline.

04

Cold chain coordination

Temp-controlled acceptance, transfer and delivery arrangements confirmed before the flight departs β€” not figured out on arrival.

05

Customs pre-clearance

SARS submissions prepared before the aircraft lands. Goods cleared before they're off the plane wherever possible.

06

Ground handling & last-mile delivery

Airport-to-door, door-to-door or airport-to-airport β€” whatever the arrangement, we manage ground handlers and domestic delivery.

Destination airports

The South African airports we work.

Primary gateway

OR Tambo International (JNB)

South Africa's busiest airport and the main hub for international air cargo. Handles the majority of our import volumes.

Western Cape

Cape Town International (CPT)

Direct services from select European carriers. Key for Western Cape-based importers avoiding inland transshipment.

KwaZulu-Natal

King Shaka International (DUR)

Growing cargo hub serving KZN manufacturers and importers, with connecting freight from OR Tambo.

Why AK Consulting

Air freight that moves as fast as you need it to.

When you're using air freight, it's usually because something urgent is on the line. We treat every air shipment with the urgency it deserves β€” confirmed space, proactive tracking and customs ready before landing.

Talk to our freight team

Pre-clearance as standard

Customs submissions prepared before the aircraft departs. We don't wait for the plane to land to start the paperwork.

IATA compliance built in

Dangerous goods, restricted items and pharma cargo handled by staff trained in IATA DGR β€” no last-minute airline rejections.

Rate vs. urgency honesty

We'll tell you if a faster sailing or LCL groupage makes more commercial sense than air. We optimise for your outcome, not our margin.

Get a quote

Tell us what you need moved and when.

Share your origin, cargo type and deadline. We'll confirm space and give you a transparent rate β€” typically within a few hours for urgent requests.

Request an air freight quoteSee how we work