Frequently Asked Questions

Air Cargo Charter

What type of cargo can you fly?

At Arcus Air Logistic we can fly any type of air cargo, from general cargo packed in boxes, as pallets or as rolls up to the more delicate issues of dangerous goods (DGR). Regardless of the cargo that you need to transport, we can provide the most suitable solution for your needs.

Do you offer cargo part-charters?

We do not provide cargo part-charters, we focus on your shipment and your shipment only.

What information do you need from me to process a quote?

To provide you with a tailor-made air cargo charter quote we will need the following information;

  • Where is the pickup location of the cargo? (Postcode)
  • What is the destination of the cargo? (Postcode)
  • What are the dimensions, type of packaging and weight of each piece (please provide quantity, volume and weight)?
  • When is the shipment (including paperwork) ready for pickup at the consignor and what is the latest time of arrival at the consignee.
  • If the commodity is classed under the air cargo Dangerous Goods Regulations, please provide the UN number. Full DGR paperwork must be provided by the consignor.

What does the service include?

Cargo charter flights include only the air charter flight itself. If a door-to-door service is booked then pickup, delivery and ground handling is included. Please be aware that customs is not included.

Special loading equipment for smaller air cargo charters is generally not needed, however, we can provide a tailor-made solution depending if it’s necessary for the shipment.

What is the time schedule after the initial enquiry? How quickly can you provide a quotation?

The time schedules and how fast we can move your shipment are usually dependent on the individual air cargo charter requests, quotes are produced after approximately 15 minutes of the initial enquiry. If customs, landing rights and other information is needed it might take a bit longer to produce a quotation. Road pickup of standard cargo is generally arranged within one hour after booking.

What is the difference between “door-to-door” and “road-express-service”?

A road-express service is a delivery only by road, a door-to-door service means an additional service that is added onto an air cargo charter.

What is the maximum possible capacity, range of helicopters?

The capacity depends on your cargo. A sensible limit to the use of helicopters is about 400 km. On longer distances the higher speed and range of aircraft makes their use more efficient.

What are the opening hours of the airports?

That differentiates highly. Only a few airports operate 24/7, but a lot can be opened on request, the so called PPR (prior permission required).

Do you operate with your own fleet? What types of aircraft do you use across your own fleet?

We operate an own fleet of Dornier 228 aircrafts and additionally use all kinds of helicopters and aircrafts ranging all the way up to AN124 for air cargo charter, all depending on your needs.

Are you available 24/7?

Yes, we are even available 24/7/365.

On Board Courier

What is a hand carry shipment / on board courier (OBC)?

A hand carry shipment is the transportation of goods which is personally accompanied and monitored by a courier. This can be an airport-to-airport or a door-to-door shipment.

What can be sent by an OBC? (Type of commodity, maximum dimensions and quantities)

We can in principle send all items that do not exceed the following:

Deliveries with a weight of more than 32 kg per parcel – parcels of greater weight possible by prior arrangement.

Parcels that exceed the dimensions of (L x W x H) 80 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm – bulkier parcels possible by prior arrangement.

Deliveries that do not comply with the transport regulations of IATA, ICAO or with the regulations of the airline selected for air transport by CFO.

However, these conditions vary from airline to airline and are therefore subject to availability.

Anything from a small envelope to several parcels can be transported by hand carry. Whether spare parts, samples, specimens, or important documents – with Arcus On Board Courier, your shipment will be delivered safely and on time to its destination.

Will my Arcus OBC shipment be tracked?

Yes, we track every step of the journey using an app. An online tracking link and email updates will be sent to the customer to follow the progress of the shipment.

Where can I fly my Arcus OBC shipment?

Arcus OBC can arrange on board courier shipments across the globe. However, the execution of the operation is always dependent on local legislation and entry regulations.

Exceptions apply in conflict zones and high-risk areas.

Is the consignment carried exclusively in hand luggage? Or can you facilitate belly-hold shipments?

Depending on the size and weight of the shipment, it can be transported as hand luggage or belly-load.

What information do you need to process a request?

To process an on board courier quotation, we need the following information:

• Business information
• When the goods will be available
• Weight of the goods (kg/lb)
• Shipment content
• Departure address
• Destination address

How do I become an on board courier?

You can apply to become an on board courier via our online ‘Become an OBC’ portal. You can register your interest by filling out the form, and one of our team members will get back to you as soon as possible.

How much lead time does the shipment need?

Shipments are subject to courier and airline availability. However, your shipment can be in the skies just a few hours after pickup.

Do you serve both B2B and B2C customers?

Our on board courier service is only for business to business (B2B) customers.

Do you provide insurance? What’s the amount that is insured?

Shipments which are booked through Arcus OBC are insured against loss and damages.

Shipments are not insured against consequential damages – i.e production line stops

Valuable goods will need additional insurance, which can be purchased for every transport individually and is subject to availability.

Who manages customs clearance?

Arcus OBC has the capacity to support customs clearances in a few countries however, this is usually managed by the customer.

What times are Arcus OBC available?

Arcus OBC is a 24/7/365 operation, our expert on board courier team is available to you via email and telephone all around the clock.

Who carries out the packaging of the goods?

Clients can book an additional repacking service if required.

Are there geographical areas that you do not serve?

We do not operate from/to countries that have significant commercial restrictions, this includes companies that are registered or/and based in these countries and routings.

However, we have a large number of countries that we can access globally.