AEO-Certified IATA Protocols Est. 1988 IGI · Mumbai · Chennai

Air Freight from India —
Express, Pharma, Perishables

When time matters more than tonnage. NG Pillai manages air freight from IGI Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru across 100+ destination airports. Pharmaceuticals, express cargo, dangerous goods, and perishables handled under applicable IATA standards.

Service Overview

What we handle by air

Air freight is the right mode when cargo is time-critical, high-value, or subject to strict temperature or regulatory requirements. NG Pillai manages the full chain from factory pickup to destination delivery — export customs, airside handling, AWB issuance, and destination agent coordination.

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Pharmaceutical & Biopharma

Pharma air freight coordinated under WHO-GDP documentation requirements at 2–8°C and 15–25°C. Pre-conditioned shipper selection, temperature monitoring, compliance documentation, and customs clearance.

Express & Time-Critical

Same-day airport drop, next-flight-out booking, priority handling at origin terminal. For samples, spare parts, and urgent commercial shipments.

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Perishables

Fresh and chilled cargo — fresh produce, cut flowers, seafood, frozen goods. Cool-cell handling at IGI Delhi's dedicated perishable terminal (T3 cargo).

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Dangerous Goods (DGR)

IATA DGR Class 2 through 9 including flammables, corrosives, lithium batteries, and toxic substances. Shipper's Declaration, UN PI compliance, airline acceptance coordination.

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High-Value Cargo

Electronics, gems and jewellery, art, and high-value engineering components. Secure handling, declared value cover, airline vault options where available.

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General Air Cargo

Standard commercial cargo from 10 kg to full charter. Consolidation on key lanes (Delhi–Dubai, Delhi–London, Mumbai–Singapore) for smaller shipments.

Gateways

Indian airports we operate from

Airport Code Key Strengths Primary Destinations
Indira Gandhi International, Delhi DEL Largest cargo gateway, pharma-capable cargo terminal, 24/7 ops Dubai, London, Frankfurt, NYC, Singapore
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International, Mumbai BOM Strong for textiles, pharma, electronics; JNPT feeder Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Amsterdam
Chennai International MAA Auto components, engineering goods; South India origin Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Frankfurt
Rajiv Gandhi International, Hyderabad HYD Pharma hub (BULK Drug, Biological), IT equipment Dubai, Singapore, Frankfurt, Chicago
Kempegowda International, Bengaluru BLR Technology, electronics, aerospace components Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, London
Air Freight Process

From enquiry to delivery

01

Rate and schedule

We assess commodity, weight, volume (chargeable weight = higher of actual vs volumetric), special handling requirements, and urgency. We compare airline options and share rate and schedule within 2 hours.

02

Pickup and packing verification

Inland transport to airport cargo terminal. Packing and labelling compliance check — critical for DGR, pharma, and perishables before terminal acceptance.

03

Export customs and AWB

Shipping Bill filing, AEO-accelerated customs processing, and Let Export Order (LEO). Air Waybill issuance (Master AWB + House AWB for consolidated shipments).

04

Airside and flight confirmation

ULD build-up, cargo acceptance by airline, flight confirmation, and airside monitoring. Pre-alert to destination agent with AWB, commercial invoice, and packing list.

05

Destination clearance and delivery

Import customs clearance at destination through our agent network. Delivery confirmation and proof of delivery sent to shipper. For India–UAE lanes, our team manages both ends directly.

Pharmaceutical Air Freight

Pharmaceutical air freight — documentation and compliance

India is one of the world's largest exporters of pharmaceutical products. NG Pillai has been coordinating pharma air freight — API, finished formulations, biologics, vaccines, and clinical trial material — for over two decades. Documentation and compliance processes are aligned with WHO Good Distribution Practice guidelines and carrier requirements.

Temperature control options

Passive systems: pre-conditioned EPS shippers, PCM-based containers for 2–8°C, 15–25°C, and controlled frozen (-20°C). Active systems available for longer transits or sensitive biologics. Temperature logger included and data provided on delivery.

Documentation requirements

Commercial invoice with HS code and declared value, packing list, Certificate of Analysis (CoA) where required, Schedule H / G declarations for controlled substances, CDSCO export permit where applicable, and IATA DGR documentation for cold-chain materials classified as DG.

Carrier selection for pharma: For critical pharma shipments, we coordinate with carriers operating validated pharma handling protocols on key lanes. Ask us which carriers are appropriate for your specific route and temperature requirement.

FAQ

Air freight questions

When should I choose air freight over sea freight?
Air freight is the right choice when your delivery window is under 7 days, when cargo is high-value relative to weight (electronics, pharma, gems), when it's perishable, or when the cost of sea freight delay exceeds the air premium. For shipments under 100 kg, air is often cost-comparable to LCL sea freight when total logistics costs are factored in.
Do you handle pharmaceutical air freight with cold chain?
Yes. For pharma air freight, we coordinate documentation, packaging requirements, pre-conditioned shipper selection, temperature monitoring, and airline acceptance based on WHO-GDP guidelines and applicable carrier requirements at 2–8°C and 15–25°C. Ask us about carrier options for your specific lane.
Can you handle dangerous goods by air?
Yes. For pharma, perishables, lithium batteries, and regulated cargo, we coordinate documentation, packaging requirements, airline acceptance, and customs clearance based on applicable carrier and regulatory requirements. We prepare Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods and ensure correct packing group and UN specification compliance per the IATA DGR manual.
Which airlines do you work with for air freight from Delhi?
We coordinate air freight through major carriers and approved cargo partners at IGI Delhi including Air India, IndiGo Cargo, Emirates SkyCargo, Etihad Cargo, Lufthansa Cargo, Singapore Airlines Cargo, and Qatar Airways Cargo. Carrier selection depends on your route, cargo type, urgency, and rate.
How is air freight chargeable weight calculated?
Airlines charge on chargeable weight — the higher of actual gross weight and volumetric weight. Volumetric weight = (length × width × height in cm) ÷ 6000. For example, a lightweight but bulky package of 50 × 40 × 30 cm has a volumetric weight of 10 kg. If actual weight is 3 kg, you pay on 10 kg. We tell you chargeable weight at the enquiry stage.

Get an air freight rate

Share origin airport, destination, commodity, approximate weight and dimensions — we'll respond within 2 business hours with rate options and carrier schedules.

Request a Rate +91 98113 54178
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