Menu

Also in the very best hands in the skies – airfreight with AMA Freight.

Airfreight contact person: Click here to find the right one.

You can download the current fuel prices and security charges payable on all airfreight here:
fuel list

Airfreight is now a key factor in serving today’s globalised markets. In the air segment AMA Freight offers highly professional services which give our customers more room to manoeuvre in today’s ever tougher marketplaces. Our slogan is: competitive conditions to boost our customers’ competitive edge! And that applies to our complete service package. AMA Freight:

  • facilitates direct bookings on all airlines with an IATA license, naturally with flights from all German and most European airlines.
  • handles all import clearance formalities.
  • secures transit shipments, hazardous goods and much more.
  • organises the drawing up of air waybills for direct submission to the recipients or AMA agents, without involving consolidators.
  • runs either its own offices or operates via contractually engaged agents at all German airports.
  • maintains close contacts not only with all IATA airlines but also all non-IATA carriers.
  • operates via internationally recognised NVOCC agents at all major airports.
  • maintains a network of reputable and experienced airfreight shippers and mixed-cargo partners.
  • offers worldwide mixed loads at favourable rates.

Frequently asked questions

Here below are some explanations of the most interesting topics around the airfreight. Please just click on a question below and you will be guided to the answer. Further you can help to develop this page by inspiring us to create new FAQ’s – just let us know.

  • What is the definition of a »Known Shipper«?

    Known Shippers are suppliers which are registered with AMA Freight by a certain official letter, prescribed by the National Aviation Authority (LBA). – AMA Freight has about 400 registered suppliers.

  • How to become a »Known Shipper«?

    All suppliers simply had to register latest April 31st in 2010.

  • What about getting registered after April 31st 2010?

    If a supplier is not registered yet, there is no way to do it afterwards. AMA Freight was forced by law to send the ultimate list of Known Shippers on Apr. 31st. No new supplier can be registered now, even by using a backdated form.

  • What are the advantages of a Known Shipper?

    The cargo from such suppliers can be declared as »secured cargo« without further steps.

  • What are the procedures in case a supplier is not listed as »Known«?

    See »unknown Shippers«

  • What is an »Unknown Shipper«?

    All suppliers which are not registered with AMA Freight as per the rules mentioned under »Known Shippers«

  • How can an Unknown Shipper become »Known«?

    After Apr 21st 2010, such suppliers can apply for registration directly with the National Aviation Board (LBA). There are a lot of very difficult rules to follow by those suppliers, and only very few companies will do that.

  • What is the most important difference between known and unknown suppliers?

    Cargo from unknown suppliers must undergo safety measurements. See »X-Ray«.

  • Why is some cargo »unsecured« although shipped by a Known Shipper?

    In case the so-called »Safe Supply Chain« was disrupted somehow, the cargo is unsecured although coming from a Known Shipper. For example, actually secured cargo becomes unsecured once delivered by an »unregistered forwarder« See »Regulated Agents«, or the truck/packages were opened during transport of whatever reason. In such cases the airlines do not accept cargo as »secured cargo«.

  • What is a »Registered Agent«?

    These so-called RA’s have implemented a system of various safety measurements for all scopes of services, including the staff, documentation procedures, warehousing, cargo handling and trucking etc.

    Such a permit, given by the National Aviation Authority, normally lasts 3 – 4 years and must revised periodically

    AMA Freight currently is registered for airfreight until end of 2013

  • Why some cargo has to be x-rayed?

    Cargo from unknown shippers (or any other unsecured cargo) only gets the status »Ready for carriage« after safety measurements have taken place. This can be done by x-ray, sniffing or hand search:

    • X-Ray: Scanning by x-ray machines, the easiest procedure but limited to weight and dims of a certain package
    • Sniffing: This procedure follows after x-ray, in case there is a suspicion of forbidden articles inside the packages
    • Hand search: This must be done for larger shipments (x-ray machines only can scan packages about 170x170 cm, both height and width. Securing by hand search means the goods have to be unpacked, packages must be re-crated etc.

  • What are the costs for x-ray?

    Meanwhile, there are several providers or x-ray services at various airports, and many airlines offer x-ray with own devices. All of them sell x-ray services at different costs; some charge per kg, some per package or a combination of both.

    We are trying to offer a kind of basic amount per kg.

  • What happens in April 2013?

    At the end of April 2013, this temporary solution by having suppliers registered from freight agencies simply expires.

    From that date, suppliers either have registered themselves or all cargo must by X-rayed.

    The procedures to get registered as a Known Shipper are very complicated and expensive. Shippers have to qualify their staff, build restricted areas for airfreight, monitor all movements even from sub-suppliers etc.

    Since most suppliers in Germany sell »FCA« or »EXW«, the interest in saving money for x-ray fees is not that high.

    According to current press reports, at most 10% of all suppliers will ultimately finish the process successfully and get registered as a Known Shipper.

    This status then will be valid to each registered agent for airfreight, contrary to the present situation.