Freshness in the Air: 5 Things to Know About Air Freight for Perishables

Ahead of Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, we’ve compiled five key things to consider about air freight for perishables, and show how our expertise ensures that your sensitive perishable cargo moves swiftly and securely - without compromising on visibility, sustainability, and operational excellence.

When it comes to moving fresh perishable goods, every hour - and every degree of temperature - counts. Air freight is a popular choice for moving fresh perishable goods across continents, as rapid movement, precise temperature control and tight compliance processes are essential for preserving quality, safety and shelf life.

1. Speed is important – but temperature control is crucial

Air freight minimises transit time for fresh perishables – but speed alone is not enough. Fresh fish exports must be kept within a narrow 0–5°C range and transit within one day in order to retain freshness.

Our air freight solutions allow us to ship high-value seafood, like sea bream and sea bass from Türkiye and shellfish from South Korea, to markets across Asia and North America in around one day - backed by climate controlled facilities, specialist packaging, and continuous temperature management.

2. Freshness is backed by compliance

Before a flight can even take off, perishables undergo strict pre-flight tests and controls. For fresh seafood moving from Türkiye to New York, this includes temperature stability checks, texture and quality inspections, safety screenings and document verification. These steps reduce the risk of rejection, delays or temperature excursions once the cargo enters the aircraft environment, and ensure the cargo reaches its destination on time.

Air freight for perishables require flawless documentation, from airway bills and certificates of origin to health and phytosanitary checks. DP World conducts thorough pre-flight inspections and integrates high-performance export packing solutions, fully compliant with international standards, to enable products to arrive fresh, safe, and ready for delivery.

3. Same-day handling requires strong logistics partnerships

Time-critical perishables shipments rely on strong partnerships between exporters and logistics providers. From multimodal connectivity and integrated cold-chain logistics to on-the-ground expertise and value-added services, strong logistics partners provide the resilience and optionality to avoid supply chain disruptions and keep perishables shipments moving quickly.

Through our Time-Critical Logistics business unit, we recently handled a fresh meat export from Paris Orly to Réunion Island within a single day. The cargo was boxed onsite, secured, equipped with cold gel packs and transferred directly to the airline for evening departure – showing that execution depends on expertise at the point of export, strong partnerships with carriers, and a logistics relationship built on trust.

4. Fast and fresh does not mean unsustainable

Moving fresh perishables by air does not necessarily mean choosing between speed and sustainability.  DP World helps exporters understand and reduce the environmental impact of their air shipments through practical, data driven tools. Our CO₂ Emissions Calculator can provide detailed insights into the carbon footprint of individual airfreight movements, enabling shippers to plan more efficient routes and meet regulatory or internal ESG targets.

For customers looking to go further, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) options allow airfreight shipments to reduce lifecycle carbon emissions without compromising on speed, reliability or temperature control — ensuring that even the most time critical perishables can move responsibly across continents.

5. Visibility brings everything together

Once airborne, exporters need confidence that their cargo is still on track. DP World provides real time visibility into location, timing and temperature milestones, allowing teams to respond quickly if conditions change. Through digital tools like Cargoes, we enable efficient tracking of fish and seafood shipments, ensuring visibility of location, temperature, and important transit updates throughout the supply chain. For high value fresh perishables, this visibility is often what protects both product value and customer trust.

Successful air freight shipments rely on flawless execution at every step of the journey. DP World delivers this through rigorous compliance, precision temperature control, and world class operational handling. From Türkiye’s aquaculture exports to France’s fresh meat shipments, DP World consistently ensures products reach global markets in peak condition. For exporters seeking reliability, speed and complete visibility, DP World is your go-to partner for air freight and time-critical cargo. 

Visit us at Seafood Expo Global and find out more about our perishables logistics solutions.