Air Freight
International CR
When time is money. Air cargo for urgent shipments, high-value goods or perishable products that can't wait weeks on the ocean.
International air cargo transport
International air freight is the fastest mode for moving goods between countries. Although the cost per kilogram is significantly higher than ocean, it's justified when delivery time, cargo value, or perishable nature makes every day of delay more expensive.
We operate at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) and coordinate inbound and outbound cargo with the main cargo and passenger airlines that offer belly cargo space.
When is air better than ocean?
- Urgent goods: When a production line is waiting for spare parts or components.
- High value-to-weight ratio: Jewelry, precision electronics, watches, medical equipment.
- Perishables: Flowers, exotic fruits, seafood, vaccines and pharmaceuticals.
- Samples and prototypes: When you need the physical product before confirming a large order.
- Seasonal launches: Holiday goods, seasonal fashion, or event supplies.
Chargeable weight in air freight
In air freight the conversion factor is 1 CBM = 167 kg. This means you're billed on the greater of actual gross weight or volumetric weight:
- Volumetric weight = (Length × Width × Height in cm) ÷ 6,000
- If your cargo is light and bulky (furniture, foams, plastics), volumetric weight is usually higher.
- If it's dense and compact (metals, electronics), gross weight is usually what's billed.
Air transit times from SJO
- USA (Miami, Houston, New York): 1–3 business days
- Europe (Madrid, Frankfurt, Amsterdam): 3–5 business days
- Asia (Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo): 5–8 business days
- South America (Bogotá, Lima, Santiago): 2–4 business days
- Central America: 1–2 business days
Air shipping process with VS Logistics
- 1. Quote: Air rate (per kg) + fuel surcharges + handling + customs clearance.
- 2. Booking: We book space with the airline based on weight, volume and required date.
- 3. Origin airport delivery: We coordinate delivery to the airport cargo warehouse with the exporter.
- 4. Airway Bill (AWB): We issue the air transport document with all shipment details.
- 5. Flight tracking: AWB-based tracking from origin to SJO.
- 6. Customs clearance at SJO: Customs process at Juan Santamaría Airport with certified broker.
- 7. Door-to-door delivery: Transport from airport to your warehouse in Costa Rica.
Speed and trust on every flight
We coordinate air cargo with the main airlines to and from Juan Santamaría Airport.
Access to all airlines
We operate with cargo and passenger airlines offering belly cargo, picking the best option based on route, rate and urgency.
Quote in hours
For urgent shipments, we quote in hours with confirmed rates. In air freight every hour counts.
Temperature controlled
We coordinate shipments with special temperature conditions for pharmaceuticals, food and biological samples.
Express clearance at SJO
We coordinate the customs process at Juan Santamaría Airport so your cargo moves fast and without hiccups.
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Quote your air shipment
Tell us origin, destination, weight and dimensions — we'll get back to you with a rate in hours.