Machines & parts air freight from Israel to United States

Why machines & parts by air freight?

Machines and industrial parts are heavy and large — not the first association with air freight. Yet air freight is often the best choice for this type of goods, for three reasons:

1. Downtime costs more than transport — A production line halted due to a defective part often costs €5,000–50,000 per day in lost revenue. The extra cost of air freight versus sea freight is then negligible.

2. Value versus weight — Precision parts (CNC tools, hydraulic pumps, servo motors) have high value per kilogram. The air freight rates are reasonable relative to the value.

3. Time-critical projects — For installations, commissioning or repairs where technicians are waiting, delays are unacceptable. Air freight guarantees certainty about arrival time.

Exporting to Israel

Israel is one of the most advanced technology economies in the world and a key market for Dutch machine parts, medical technology, and agri-tech. Schiphol operates multiple direct cargo flights per week to Tel Aviv (TLV), ensuring most shipments are cargo-to-cargo within 5–7 hours.

Customs & regulations

Israeli customs (Israel Tax Authority) use the Sha'ar Olami system for digital declarations. For most industrial goods, a commercial invoice, packing list, and— for goods covered under the EU-Israel Association Agreement — a EUR.1 or invoice declaration for preferential tariff treatment are sufficient. Separate registration requirements apply for medical, telecom, and cosmetic products through the Ministry of Health or the Standards Institution of Israel (SII).

Practical tips

• Request a EUR.1 or exporter’s declaration in time for preferential clearance — this can significantly reduce import duties
• Be mindful of Shabbat (Friday evening through Saturday) and Jewish holidays when processing is halted
• Dual-use goods require export licenses from the Netherlands and an end-user statement

Aircargo.nl works with dedicated agents at Ben Gurion and manages the full documentation chain — including preferential certificates and end-user declarations — for smooth handling.

Importing from the United States

Imports from the US often involve high-value goods: medical equipment, semiconductors, aerospace parts, pharmaceuticals, and specialized machinery. The approximately 9-hour flight time makes air freight the logical choice for time-sensitive or valuable shipments.

Customs on imports from the US

The US and EU do not have a free trade agreement, so standard EU import duties apply. Additional MDR/IVDR requirements apply for pharmaceuticals and medical devices when importing into the EU. Aerospace parts fall under EASA regulations and require specific certificates (EASA Form 1 or FAA 8130-3).

Frequently requested goods from the US

• Medical and surgical equipment
• Semiconductors and chipsets
• Aerospace parts (AOG)
• Pharmaceuticals and biotech products
• Machinery and industrial tools

Aircargo.nl manages daily import shipments from the US — including customs clearance, any FDA documentation, and delivery throughout the Netherlands.

Israel as a crosstrade destination

Schiphol serves as a major European hub for crosstrades with Tel Aviv as the final destination. Many American and European tech and defense suppliers route high-value shipments via AMS to TLV, as the Dutch customs regime is predictable and efficient for transit.

Aircargo.nl has permanent agents in Tel Aviv and can coordinate routing via El Al, KLM Cargo, or Cargolux as well as Israeli customs clearance — without the shipment having to touch Dutch soil.

Points of attention for machines & parts

Weight and dimensions

Machines and heavy parts often exceed standard air freight dimensions or weights. Shipments over 500 kg per piece or with oversized dimensions require special freighter flights or positions on a cargo aircraft. Aircargo.nl has access to freighters from KLM Cargo, Lufthansa Cargo and other carriers for oversized cargo.

Detailed packing list

Machines generally have a complex composition: multiple parts, materials and values. A detailed and accurate packing list is essential for customs clearance, especially for destinations with high import duties on capital goods (India, Brazil).

AOG situations

When a mechanical production process stops due to a defective part, every minute is precious. Aircargo.nl has a 24/7 AOG desk for time-critical machine parts — from booking to delivery on the production floor.