SME

By FedEx | May 22, 2025

Not sure whether to ship by air or sea? Our guide breaks down the pros, cons, and international shipping strategies to help your business make the right choice.

• Are you weighing air freight and sea freight for international shipping? Your shipping strategy can impact costs, customer satisfaction, and your ability to expand into new markets.
• Both air and ocean freight are key segments of global logistics – but many SMEs find that shipping by air gives them a competitive edge in today’s fast-paced e-commerce environment. 
• By prioritizing speed and reliability, APAC businesses can stay nimble, reach customers faster, and build a supply chain that adapts to their changing needs.

By air or by sea? And no, we’re not talking about your next holiday trip – we’re talking about your shipping strategy.

If you’re running a growing e-commerce business, choosing how your goods travel overseas is a big deal. Go by air, and your products arrive fast. Go by sea, and you might save some cash, but you’ll have to wait a few weeks. The trick is knowing when speed matters more than savings, and how to strike the right balance.

At FedEx, we help APAC businesses navigate the complexities of cross-border trade. One of the most common questions we hear is: “Which freight option best suits my needs?”
Both air and ocean freight have their place in global logistics. Ocean freight is often prioritized for cost savings. But when timing, reliability, and agility matter most, air freight helps SMEs punch above their weight.

This guide breaks down the key differences between air and sea freight to help you decide what works best for your business.

What is the meaning of air freight?

Let’s start with the basics. Air freight is the transport of goods by aircraft. It’s often confused with air cargo, which refers more broadly to any freight carried via air, including parcels and mail.

What is the difference between air cargo and air freight? Air freight typically involves larger shipments moved via freight aircraft or in the cargo hold of passenger planes, while air cargo can include courier shipments and smaller packages.

At FedEx, for example, any shipment exceeding 68kg is considered freight. While some businesses consider sea freight as the go-to option for bulk shipping, many SMEs are now discovering that air freight can be surprisingly cost-effective, especially for time-sensitive, high-value goods. Whether you’re shipping a single pallet or multiple crates, air freight offers speed, security, and reliability.

Air freight vs. sea freight for international shipping

Here’s how the two compare in practical terms:

Speed:

• Air freight: Typically 1 to 7 days
• Sea freight: Typically 20 to 45 days

Reliability: 

• Air freight: High schedule accuracy with precise delivery windows
• Sea freight: En-route delays can impact delivery forecasting

Flexibility:

• Air freight: Frequent (often daily) flights with greater flexibility for rerouting
• Sea freight: Fewer departure options with limited flexibility

Supply chain risk:

• Air freight: Lower risk of disruption
• Sea freight: Higher risk due to port strikes, congestion, weather, or geopolitical issues

Still can’t decide? Here are some questions to guide you

Unsure which shipping option to choose? Here are a few questions to help you figure out the best option for your shipment:

1. How urgent is your delivery?

If your customers expect fast delivery, air freight is the way to go. It’s also the better choice when you need to respond quickly to stockouts, seasonal spikes, or last-minute orders.

2. How big or bulky is your shipment?

Are you shipping large volumes (to be sent as freight) or smaller packages? Sea freight is often chosen for large, heavy, or high-volume shipments. However, air freight also handles bulky shipments, with the added benefit of delivering them much more quickly.

3. Are you shipping in smaller volumes or installments?

Ocean freight favors bulk, but not every SME can fill a shipping container. This is where air freight comes in. If you’re shipping in smaller batches more frequently, air freight offers better flexibility and lower warehousing costs. You can send in smaller, more manageable volumes and scale as needed without paying for unused container space.

4. How valuable or perishable are your goods?

High-value electronics, pharmaceuticals, and perishable food shipments are better suited to the enhanced security and speed that air freight offers. In fact, when comparing air freight vs. sea shipping for frozen food, air freight is better at preserving freshness and meeting shelf-life requirements.

5. Have you considered potential supply chain disruption?

Seaports and major shipping channels can face delays from geopolitical tensions or extreme weather. Air freight, with its frequent departures and global network, gives you more certainty.

6. Is cost your biggest concern?

If your shipment isn’t time-sensitive, sea freight can be more cost-effective. However, when you factor in the warehousing and inventory carrying costs associated with sea freight, the total cost of air freight might not be as high as you think.

Why more SMEs are choosing air over sea

Traditionally, ocean freight made sense for high-volume, low-value shipments such as heavy furniture or raw materials. But today’s SMEs are changing their approach.

For example, imagine a fashion e-commerce brand that sells globally. Instead of waiting 30 days for restocking via sea freight, they can ship weekly in small batches by air. While the overall shipping costs may be slightly higher, they will reduce stockouts, improve cash flow, and increase customer satisfaction.

Other businesses, like electronics sellers or direct-to-consumer brands, may ship premium stock-keeping units (SKUs) by air and send slower-moving items by sea. You don’t have to choose one freight option over the other. You can combine both to suit your business needs.

Is air freight better for urgent shipments?

Yes, air freight remains unmatched for urgent deliveries. Whether it’s a critical machinery part, a restock before a flash sale, or holiday season orders, speed matters. With FedEx’s International Priority Freight, for example, many SMEs in Asia Pacific are cutting delivery times from weeks to just 1 to 3 days. Beyond the logistics advantage, this speed also enhances the customer experience.

Giving SMEs flexibility in a disrupted world

In the last few years, we’ve seen just how vulnerable global supply chains can be. Port backlogs, container shortages, and shipping lane disruptions have left many SMEs scrambling. Air freight offers the agility to pivot, along with complete control over delivery windows and timelines.

With air freight, you often only pay for the space you use, which makes it easier to scale as your business grows. It also helps reduce the cost of holding excess stock, giving you more flexibility and better cash flow.

And you don’t need to choose one freight option and stick with it forever. Some SMEs start with sea freight to test new markets, then switch to air freight when demand grows. Others split shipments, sending urgent, high-value and perishable goods by air, while the rest travel by sea.

If you’re still unsure, ask yourself:

• What are my customers’ expectations for delivery time?
• How often do I restock inventory?
• Can I afford a three- to six-week wait?
• How much would a stockout cost me in lost sales?

Helping SMEs take flight with air freight 

Across Asia Pacific, we’ve seen the difference that fast, reliable shipping can make, especially for SMEs trying to grow internationally. 

While sea freight still plays a role in global trade, air freight gives SMEs the agility, speed, and control they need to thrive in today’s fast-moving e-commerce landscape. For businesses aiming to expand across borders without getting bogged down by long lead times or inventory risks, air freight offers a clear edge.

Beyond moving goods quickly, air freight is about staying agile. It allows you to adapt fast, meet customer demand in real-time, and create a supply chain that moves with your business. If you’re still weighing the choice between air freight and sea freight for international shipping, we can help you find the smartest route forward. Let’s take your business further, faster.