Machines & parts air freight from United States to Turkey

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 the United States

The US is the largest importer in the world and a top destination for Dutch exporters. Schiphol offers daily direct cargo flights to New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), Chicago (ORD), and Atlanta (ATL), with a flight time of about 9 hours. Due to the wide availability, air freight rates to the US are generally competitive.

US Customs & Border Protection (CBP)

US customs requires a correct Airway Bill, commercial invoice, and packing list for every shipment. Shipments over $800 require a formal customs entry (ISF declaration). Electronics, pharmaceuticals, and dual-use goods may require additional permits, such as an EAR export license or FDA registration of the manufacturer.

What you need to know

• Lithium batteries are subject to IATA DGR rules — always notify in advance
• Certain goods fall under EAR (Export Administration Regulations) and require a BIS license
• The US has no VAT but does charge customs duties — your buyer pays these upon import
• ISF 10+2 declaration is mandatory for sea freight; AMS (Advance Manifest System) applies for air freight

Aircargo.nl handles the complete export documentation towards the US and has established relationships with US customs agents at all major hubs.

Importing from Turkey

Imports from Turkey are diverse: textiles and fashion, automotive parts, hazelnuts and dried fruits, high-quality machinery, and — specifically for air freight — fresh products like citrus fruits and cherries. Schiphol receives daily volumes from IST.

Air Freight vs. Sea and Road Transport

Sea freight from Istanbul or Mersin to Rotterdam takes 8–12 days. Road transport is a popular alternative and takes 5–7 days. Air freight via Schiphol is ready for clearance within 1 working day — ideal for fresh products and urgent shipments.

Customs for Imports from Turkey

Under the EU-Turkey customs union, industrial products can be imported duty-free with an A.TR certificate. Agricultural products are subject to EU import duties or preferential tariffs under EUR.1. Fresh products require EU phytosanitary inspections via the NVWA. Aircargo.nl handles complete customs clearance.

Top Imported Goods from Turkey

• Fresh products (citrus, cherries, grapes, figs)
• Hazelnuts and dried fruits
• Textiles, fashion, and leather goods
• Automotive parts and machine components

US as a crosstrade hub via Schiphol

Schiphol is one of the few European airports with a fully equipped customs bonded warehouse, allowing goods from the US to transit via AMS to Asia, the Middle East, or Africa without formal EU import procedures. This makes the US–Schiphol route particularly suitable as a crosstrade hub for multinationals organizing their European distribution through the Netherlands.

Aircargo.nl coordinates US crosstrades for clients in sectors such as pharma, aviation, and tech, managing the full transit — including handling, documentation, and onward carriage — from a single point.

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.