What Can You Send by Air Freight from Heathrow? A Guide to UK Air Cargo
Air freight is often associated with urgent documents, electronics or high-value goods, but the range of cargo that can travel by air is much wider.
Businesses use air freight to move everything from commercial products and engineering components to samples, replacement parts and time-sensitive stock.
For UK businesses using London Heathrow Airport (LHR), the type of cargo, its size, value, handling requirements and destination can all influence whether air freight is an appropriate option.
The road transport surrounding the shipment is also important.
Cargo may need to be collected from a warehouse, manufacturer or supplier and transported to the correct Heathrow cargo facility. Once the goods arrive in the UK, they may then need to be collected from Heathrow and delivered to their final destination.
WSUK supports businesses with the collection and delivery logistics surrounding air-freight movements, including regular movements connected with Heathrow.
What types of goods can be sent by air freight?
A wide variety of commercial goods can potentially be transported by air.
Common examples include:
- Electronics
- Engineering components
- Machinery parts
- Automotive components
- Medical and pharmaceutical products
- Clothing and textiles
- Commercial samples
- Spare parts
- High-value goods
- Documents
- Technology equipment
- Retail products
- Time-sensitive stock
- Manufacturing components
The exact requirements depend on the nature of the goods and the destination.
Certain commodities require specialist handling, documentation, packaging or approval before they can travel by air.
Why businesses choose air freight
The biggest attraction of air freight is usually speed.
For businesses operating international supply chains, there are occasions when waiting for a slower transport method isn't commercially practical.
For example, a manufacturer may suddenly need a replacement component.
A retailer may need urgent stock replenishment.
An engineering business may require a specialist part from overseas.
An exporter may need goods delivered to an international customer within a tight timeframe.
Air freight can provide an option for these types of situations, subject to the available service and shipment requirements.
Air freight for urgent replacement parts
One particularly important use of air cargo is the movement of replacement parts.
Imagine a production line is waiting for a specialist component.
If that part is delayed, the financial consequences could be considerably greater than the cost of transporting it by air.
In situations like this, businesses may consider air freight as a way of moving the replacement component quickly through an international logistics network.
The shipment still requires collection, airport handling and onward delivery, however.
The road transport surrounding the air movement therefore remains important.
Air freight for manufacturing businesses
Manufacturers can use air freight for a range of international requirements.
This could include:
- Production components
- Engineering parts
- Prototypes
- Samples
- Replacement machinery parts
- Finished products
- Specialist equipment
A shipment could begin at a UK manufacturing facility, be collected by road and transported to Heathrow before continuing internationally.
Alternatively, imported components could arrive at Heathrow before being collected and delivered to a UK factory.
For manufacturers with regular international movements, having reliable airport transport can become an important part of their wider logistics strategy.
Air freight for electronics and technology
Electronics and technology products are another common category of air cargo.
Businesses may need to move:
- Electronic components
- Computers
- Networking equipment
- Communications equipment
- Specialist technology
- Commercial samples
The specific requirements will depend on the product.
Some electronic goods can also involve additional transport considerations, such as batteries or other regulated components.
Businesses should therefore always confirm the requirements of the freight forwarder and airline before arranging transport.
Air freight for samples and prototypes
Air freight can also be useful when businesses need to move samples or prototypes internationally.
A company developing a new product may need to send a prototype to an overseas customer.
A manufacturer may need to receive a sample before beginning production.
A business exhibiting at an international trade event may need equipment or products transported ahead of the event.
Because these shipments can be commercially important and time-sensitive, air freight may be considered where the required service is available.
Can pharmaceutical products be sent by air freight?
Yes, pharmaceutical and healthcare-related cargo can be transported by air, but specialist requirements may apply.
Heathrow has dedicated cargo infrastructure supporting specialist goods, including pharmaceutical storage facilities.
Temperature-sensitive or controlled cargo can require specific packaging, handling and storage arrangements.
Businesses should therefore work with an appropriate freight forwarder and cargo handler where specialist conditions are required.
The road transport element may also need to meet particular requirements.
Can high-value goods be sent through Heathrow?
Heathrow's cargo operation includes specialist facilities for high-value goods.
High-value shipments can include specialist equipment, technology, luxury goods and other commercially valuable products.
The appropriate security, handling and transport arrangements will depend on the shipment.
For businesses moving valuable cargo, the entire logistics chain needs to be considered rather than focusing solely on the flight.
That includes:
Collection → Road transport → Cargo handling → Air freight → Destination handling → Final delivery
What goods cannot be sent by air freight?
Not every product can be transported by air without restrictions.
Certain goods may be:
- Prohibited
- Restricted
- Subject to specialist handling
- Subject to additional documentation
- Subject to airline approval
- Subject to dangerous-goods regulations
Examples can include certain chemicals, explosives, weapons, gases, batteries and other hazardous materials.
The rules vary according to the exact product, quantity, packaging, destination and airline.
Businesses should always declare the contents accurately and confirm the requirements with their freight forwarder or carrier before arranging an air-freight movement.
How does the cargo get to Heathrow?
The cargo normally needs to reach the relevant freight forwarder or cargo-handling operation at the airport.
For a Midlands business, that can mean a road collection from:
- Coventry
- Birmingham
- Leicester
- Northampton
- Rugby
- Lutterworth
- Nuneaton
- Warwick
- Daventry
- surrounding Midlands locations
The collection needs to be planned around the shipment's requirements and the instructions provided by the freight forwarder or cargo handler.
WSUK can support the road transport surrounding these movements.
What happens when air freight arrives at Heathrow?
When cargo arrives at Heathrow, it enters the airport's wider cargo operation.
Depending on the shipment, this can involve cargo handling, security procedures, customs requirements and preparation for the onward flight.
Heathrow has a substantial cargo ecosystem, with the airport reporting more than 50 freight forwarders within a 5km radius.
The exact handling process depends on the cargo and the arrangements made by the freight forwarder and airline.
Once the goods reach their destination airport, further import and delivery processes will apply.
How much does Heathrow air freight cost?
There isn't a single price for air freight.
The cost can depend on:
- Destination
- Chargeable weight
- Dimensions
- Cargo type
- Airline
- Freight forwarder
- Handling requirements
- Security requirements
- Collection
- Airport charges
- Delivery
- Customs requirements
- Urgency
This is why businesses should request a quote based on the actual shipment rather than relying on a generic price per pallet or kilogram.
The road collection and final delivery should also be considered when calculating the overall logistics cost.
Air freight from the Midlands to Heathrow
For Midlands businesses, Heathrow can be an important international gateway.
A shipment may begin in Coventry, travel by road to Heathrow and then continue internationally.
Another business in Birmingham may have regular cargo collected for an overseas customer.
A Leicester, Northampton, Rugby or Lutterworth business may also use Heathrow where the international freight arrangement makes LHR the appropriate airport.
The key is connecting the local collection with the correct freight operation.
Heathrow isn't the only option
Businesses in the Midlands can also consider other airports depending on their requirements.
Birmingham Airport (BHX) can be relevant for West Midlands businesses.
East Midlands Airport (EMA) has a major express and air-cargo operation and is centrally positioned within the Midlands.
London Heathrow (LHR) has an extensive international network and substantial cargo infrastructure.
The right airport depends on the actual shipment, destination and freight arrangements.
Read our guide to [Air Freight from the Midlands: Heathrow, Birmingham & East Midlands Airport Explained].
Regular Heathrow air-freight collections and deliveries
For businesses moving air cargo regularly, dependable road transport can become an important part of the supply chain.
A regular movement may look like:
Warehouse
↓
Collection
↓
Heathrow
↓
Cargo handling
↓
International flight
↓
Destination airport
↓
Import handling
↓
Delivery
WSUK supports businesses with logistics surrounding these movements, including regular collections and deliveries connected with Heathrow.
Air Freight from Heathrow with WSUK
Whether you're moving engineering components, commercial products, samples, technology, specialist equipment or other permitted cargo, the road logistics surrounding your air-freight shipment still need to work properly.
WSUK supports businesses across the Midlands with transport connected with major UK air-freight gateways.
From Coventry and Birmingham to Leicester, Northampton, Rugby, Lutterworth, Nuneaton, Warwick and surrounding locations, we can support the collection and delivery requirements surrounding international air cargo.
Need a regular collection to Heathrow or a delivery from Heathrow into the Midlands? Contact WSUK to discuss your requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you send by air freight?
Many commercial goods can travel by air, including electronics, engineering components, machinery parts, samples, textiles, retail products and time-sensitive stock. Restrictions can apply depending on the cargo.
Can pallets be sent by air freight?
Yes, pallets can be used for air cargo, although the size, weight, packaging and handling requirements need to be confirmed for the particular shipment.
Can businesses send urgent parts through Heathrow?
Yes, air freight can be used for time-sensitive commercial shipments such as replacement components, subject to the available service and cargo requirements.
Can dangerous goods travel by air?
Some dangerous goods can be transported by air under specific regulations and approval requirements. Other goods may be prohibited. The exact classification and requirements should be confirmed before shipping.
Can WSUK collect air freight from my business?
WSUK supports businesses with logistics surrounding air-freight movements, including regular collections and deliveries connected with Heathrow and other major UK airports.