Europe – North America is an important global trade route. While the wide selection of European ports are relatively close together, there is significant geographical spread amongst North American ports. Our job is to advise you on the best solution to meet your deadline, no matter when you need them to arrive.
Chartering an aircraft from Europe is a complex operation, however, sometimes it is the only solution to ensure your goods arrive on time.
An Air Charter operation from Europe to North America can be achieved in 24-48 hours when permits are in place, should a permit-at-location be necessary this can take up to ten days. A key element is having a local team on the ground, available 24/7, to ensure the right decisions are made, the most efficient point of export is selected, and the Air Charter operation runs as seamlessly as possible avoiding significant unnecessary cost.
Your plan will include both full charter – and, if available, part charter solutions to ensure you get the space you need.
Ultimately On-board Courier (OBC) delivery is the fastest mode of transport from Europe to North America. Still, it is only suitable when your goods can be carried onto the plane or fit into the baggage hold of a commercial flight.
Depending on the distance from the major hubs in China, an OBC operation can often deliver within 24-36 hours from collection.
The key to using OBC from China successfully is understanding when it is a viable option. This is achieved by ensuring the goods can be carried, the correct customs documentation can be completed, and the best departure and arrival points are selected, considering cost and risk. Ensuring that the courier’s visa, testing requirements and merchandise-in-baggage clearance can be completed are prerequisites to a successful OBC operation.
Airfreight is often the best solution if you need to transport your goods to North America faster than ocean freight. Depending on your deadline, options include Emergency, Next-Flight-Out, Express and Standard service.
While airfreight from Europe is a popular and generally reliable option, if done incorrectly, airfreight can result in significant delays of days or even weeks and unnecessary extra cost.
Emergency and next-flight-out operations can often deliver within 24-60 hours, depending on the distance from the airport at each end. The airlines must-ride products usually come with a premium cost, and when selecting standard airfreight, it is best to look at which airline has the best offer on the day. Standard airfreight from Europe to North America will often deliver between seven and ten days.
Our airfreight supplier network consists of all significant cargo carriers on the Europe-North America route, including Air France KLM, American Airlines, British Airways, Cargo-Lux, Delta Airlines, Kalita, Lufthansa, SF Airlines and United Airlines.
Major airports utilised for air solutions include Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Frankfurt International Airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport, London Heathrow Airport and Václav Havel Airport Prague. Flying into John F. Kennedy International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
Sea freight from Europe to North America generally takes four to five weeks, depending on whether the destination port is on the East or West coast. It is generally the most economical option, but in events such as the Covid pandemic, there was significant disruption to ocean carrier networks, resulting in substantial delays and much higher costs. Events such as this have highlighted the need for flexible contingency plans when shipping critical items by sea freight.
