Air freight — express, standard and economy cargo
Air freight to and from Bulgaria, connected to airports worldwide — express, standard and economy cargo, with transparent surcharges and one responsible contact.
- Express cargo — 24–48 hours airport to airport, for AOG and critical deadlines
- Standard air cargo — 1–3 days via major hubs
- Economy cargo — 7–10 days with a road feeder to the door
- IATA DGR handling for dangerous goods, incl. lithium batteries
KG Cargo arranges air freight to and from Bulgaria across three clearly separated service levels: express cargo (24–48 hours airport to airport), standard air cargo (1–3 days) and economy cargo (7–10 days). We coordinate pickup, the IATA AWB, customs clearance and door delivery in a single enquiry — with a transparent quote for your specific cargo.
Express air cargo (24–48 hours)
The express service puts your cargo on the first suitable direct flight. Transit time is 24 to 48 hours airport to airport, depending on flight frequency on the route. It suits AOG (aircraft on ground) parts, urgent production-line replacements, samples, prototypes and shipments where a delay blocks production or triggers penalties. We recommend this mode when every hour of delay costs more than speeding up the delivery.
Standard air cargo (1–3 days)
Standard air cargo uses the scheduled networks of passenger and cargo airlines with consolidated capacity. Transit time is 1 to 3 days airport to airport, with free routing through European and Asian hubs (Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Istanbul, Dubai, Hong Kong). It is the balanced choice for most B2B shipments of 50 to 500 kg where timing matters but isn't critical.
Economy air cargo (7–10 days)
The economy service combines an air leg between central hubs with a road feeder to or from Bulgaria. Transit time is 7 to 10 days. Cargo waits for consolidation and uses cheaper routings than standard air. For non-urgent shipments it is often worth comparing with ocean freight — air stays sensible for sensitive cargo or limited weight.
Routes and transit time
| Route (Sofia ↔) | Express | Standard | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai / Hong Kong | 48 h | 3–5 days | 10–14 days |
| Frankfurt / Amsterdam | 24 h | 1–2 days | 5–7 days |
| JFK New York | 36–48 h | 3–4 days | 8–12 days |
| Dubai | 24–36 h | 2–3 days | 7–9 days |
| Istanbul | 24 h | 1–2 days | 4–6 days |
| London Heathrow | 24 h | 1–2 days | 5–7 days |
What the service includes
- Pickup from your address in Bulgaria or a foreign shipper (door-to-airport or door-to-door).
- Issue of the IATA AWB (Air Waybill) — the primary transport document for air freight.
- Customs clearance on export or import (coordinated with proven brokers — see customs clearance).
- Chargeable weight calculated on the IATA volumetric factor 1 m³ = 167 kg — for a quote with no surprises.
- Coordination of cargo insurance on All Risks terms.
- Tracking from departure to arrival + proactive updates on any delay or routing change.
Dangerous goods by air (IATA DGR)
Dangerous goods by air are governed by the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR). They require UN classification, certified packing, specific marking, a Shipper's Declaration and pre-clearance with the airline. Limits on passenger flights are stricter than on cargo-only (CAO) flights. Lithium batteries are the most common DG case. A mis-declared DG means the shipment is returned plus a penalty, so when in doubt, write to us before booking.
Why KG Cargo for air freight
- Transparent quotes — a written quote with itemised charges (freight, fuel, security, handling, customs) within the working day.
- No hidden charges — what we quote is what you pay; no airport surcharges after booking.
- Bulgarian customs experience — since 2012 we coordinate with the Customs Agency at Sofia Airport, Plovdiv and Burgas; we know which documents clear and which hold a shipment.
- A single coordinator — one person runs the shipment from enquiry to delivery, you don't switch between departments.
- A forwarder since 2012 — we arrange the move with proven air-cargo carriers and GSA partners, without being tied to a single carrier.
Have urgent or sensitive cargo for air? Send the destination, weight and dimensions — we’ll prepare a quote for your specific shipment.
Request a quoteAir freight FAQ
When is air freight worth it versus ocean or rail?
Air is justified in three scenarios: (1) time is critical — a production line is waiting, a project is closing, a deadline slipped; (2) the cargo is sensitive — fragile, high-value, temperature-dependent, short shelf life; (3) weight under 500 kg over long distances, where ocean and rail are rarely cost-effective because of fixed handling charges. For regular B2B shipments over 1 tonne from Asia, ocean FCL/LCL or rail from China usually gives a better total cost.
What is the difference between actual weight and chargeable weight?
Airlines charge on the greater of the two: actual weight (physical weight) or volumetric weight (volume × IATA factor 1:6, i.e. 1 m³ = 167 kg). Light, bulky shipments such as textiles, packaging and plastic goods are almost always charged on volumetric. Before booking we check against the real package dimensions — surprises on receipt are the most common cause of a blown budget.
What documents are needed for air export from Bulgaria?
The standard export pack: a commercial invoice, packing list, AWB (issued by the forwarder), an export declaration with an MRN number from the ECS system of the Customs Agency, a certificate of origin (EUR.1 or Form A under a preferential regime) and a DG declaration if the cargo is dangerous. The documents must be consistent with each other — discrepancies between the AWB and the invoice are the most common cause of a customs hold.
How soon will I get a quote?
Within 2 working hours we get in touch to clarify the details you’ve sent. We prepare a complete, transparent quote with all its terms once we have all the shipment data. For specific cargo (batteries, liquids, food and similar) that requires document checks, and for EXW, DAP and DDP delivery terms, we send the quote once we have all the costs in hand. We handle each shipment as per its specifics, so you get a correct and optimized quote. International logistics is a complex process, and considering every factor and cost sometimes takes time.
Send your shipment details and we’ll get in touch within 2 working hours.
Request a quoteOr reach us on the contact page.