Deep Frozen via air freight to India

Deep frozen by air freight: maintaining quality over long distances

At first glance, deep frozen products may not seem like a logical choice for air freight — sea freight in refrigerated containers is much cheaper after all. But for certain deep frozen products, air freight is the right choice due to quality, freshness, or urgency reasons.

When deep frozen by plane?

• High-quality seafood: deep frozen lobster, scallops, tuna, and other premium seafood for the restaurant sector — where quality deteriorates too much during prolonged sea freight transport
• Pharmaceutical deep frozen products: vaccines, biologicals, and certain blood products require -20°C or lower and cannot be transported by ship
• Seasonal urgency: if a specific deep frozen product must be urgently available — e.g., for a major buyer or a retail chain that missed stock
• Small, high-value batches: where the value per kg justifies the higher air freight rates

Aircargo.nl is fully equipped for deep frozen transport: from dry ice calculation to veterinary notifications and NVWA clearance.

Exporting to India

India is one of the most complex yet promising destinations for air freight. The country is growing rapidly and the demand for specialized European products — machinery, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and high-tech components — is increasing year after year. Schiphol offers direct cargo flights to Mumbai (BOM), Delhi (DEL), and Bangalore (BLR).

Indian customs — be well prepared

India is known for its complex customs procedures. Import duties are high (on average 10–30% per product category) and documentation requirements are strict. An incorrect HS code or incomplete invoice will inevitably lead to delays. Additionally, certain products require prior registration with Indian authorities (BIS, CDSCO for medical devices).

Points of attention

• BIS registration mandatory for many electronic devices
• CDSCO approval for pharmaceuticals and medical devices
• FSSAI registration for food products
• Import license may be required depending on the type of goods
• Payment via Letter of Credit common for higher values

Deep frozen air freight considerations

Uninterrupted frozen cold chain

Deep frozen products must be kept at a minimum of -18°C throughout the entire transport. This requires dry ice (carbon dioxide, UN1845 — DGR-classified), certified freezing containers (unit load devices), or a combination of both. Aircargo.nl arranges the correct cooling based on flight duration and product.

Dry ice — DGR consideration

Dry ice is a dangerous good (UN1845, class 9) and must be documented on the AWB and Shipper’s Declaration. The amount of dry ice per shipment is limited by airline regulations. Aircargo.nl always calculates the required amount of dry ice based on flight time plus buffer hours and documents this correctly.

Health certificates

Deep frozen products of animal origin (meat, fish, shellfish) require a veterinary health certificate upon import into the EU and are inspected at designated border inspection posts (BIPs). Aircargo.nl pre-notifies the shipment to the NVWA for smooth clearance.