Air Freight Services in Nairobi (JKIA)

Air Freight through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

JKIA is the busiest cargo airport in East Africa and Kenya's link to the world for anything that cannot wait for a ship. We handle both import and export air cargo, from a single carton of spares to full pallet consignments.

When air freight is the right choice

Air costs more per kilo than sea, but the comparison is rarely that simple. Air freight ties up far less working capital in transit inventory, needs less warehousing, carries lower insurance premiums and reaches the market faster. For high-value or fast-moving goods the total cost frequently favours air even when the freight rate looks alarming.

Understanding chargeable weight

Airlines charge on whichever is greater, actual weight or volumetric weight. Volumetric weight is calculated as length × width × height in centimetres divided by 5,000. A large box of light goods will be charged on its volume, not its scale weight. Packing tightly and choosing the right carton size is one of the easiest ways to reduce an air freight bill — talk to us before you pack.

Exports: perishables and beyond

Kenya's flower, fresh produce and horticulture exports are among the most time-critical air cargo in the world. We arrange temperature-controlled handling, documentation and airline space for perishable exports, alongside general cargo, samples and courier-style consignments.

Imports

We receive cargo at JKIA, clear it through customs, and deliver within Nairobi or onward across the country. For regulated goods we advise on conformity requirements before shipment rather than after arrival, which is when they become expensive.

Special cargo

Dangerous goods, pharmaceuticals with cold chain requirements, valuables, and oversized pieces all need specific handling and documentation. Dangerous goods in particular must be declared, packed, marked and documented to IATA requirements before they reach the airport — an undeclared item found during acceptance will be refused, and repeated offences affect your ability to ship at all. Tell us what you are moving and we will tell you what it needs.

Express or economy?

Most lanes into JKIA offer both. Express buys you priority on the first available flight and confirmed space. Economy or deferred service accepts that your cargo may wait for space, typically adding two to four days for a materially lower rate. For a routine restock, economy air is often the overlooked middle ground between expensive express and slow ocean freight — it is still dramatically faster than sea.

Reducing what you pay

• Pack to the box, not to the habit. Because charging is volumetric, empty space in a carton is space you pay for. Right-sizing cartons is the easiest saving available.
• Consolidate. Several small consignments shipped separately each attract minimum charges and separate clearance costs. One shipment does not.
• Get documents right before departure. Clearance delays at JKIA generate storage charges that erode the speed you paid for.
• Book ahead in peak. Space tightens sharply before Christmas and around major holidays, and rates follow.

Clearance at JKIA

Air cargo clearance is generally faster than sea, but the same fundamentals apply: the entry must be lodged correctly, duties assessed and paid, and any regulatory approvals in place. Goods subject to Pre-Export Verification of Conformity still need their Certificate of Conformity — arriving by air does not exempt them. We lodge, clear and deliver, and we will flag conformity requirements before you ship rather than after your cargo has landed.