It’s a common and reasonable question: if a passenger can fly from the USA to Kenya in about 24 hours, why does air freight delivery take 7–15 business days?
The key difference is that air freight is a logistics process, not just a flight. Your shipment goes through several highly regulated steps before, during, and after the aircraft journey to ensure safety, compliance, and successful delivery.
The flight time is only one part of the overall process.
1. Pre-Flight Processing and Compliance in the USA
Before a cargo shipment can be loaded onto an aircraft, it must be prepared, verified, and approved for international transport. These steps are mandatory for all air freight.
This stage includes:
Preparing export documentation and booking space with the airline
Measuring actual and volumetric weight for airline billing
Security screening and airline acceptance checks
Depending on airline cut-off times and flight availability, this stage typically takes 1–2 business days.
2. Airline Handling and Transit Time
Once your shipment is accepted by the airline:
It is loaded onto the scheduled departure flight from the USA
Most cargo does not fly directly from the USA to Kenya
Shipments usually transit through Europe or the Middle East
At the transit airport:
The cargo is offloaded from the first flight
Additional security or compliance checks may be carried out
The shipment waits for the scheduled onward flight from the connecting airport to Kenya.
Unlike passenger layovers that may last only a few hours, cargo layovers typically last 2–3 days, depending on airline routing and available capacity.
Airlines prioritize:
Safety and regulatory compliance
Efficient routing across their global network
3. Customs Clearance in Kenya
After your shipment arrives in Kenya, it must be cleared by customs before it can be released for delivery.
This process includes:
Import customs processing
Inspection and verification by government authorities such as:
Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA)
Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS)
Customs release approvals
Customs clearance timelines vary depending on the shipment type but typically take 1–2 business days.
4. Local Handling and Final Delivery
Once customs clearance is complete:
Your shipment is sorted and processed at our warehouse Kenya
Last-mile delivery is scheduled to your delivery address
This final stage usually takes 1–2 business days.
The Key Thing to Remember
Air freight delivery includes warehouse processing, airline handling, international transit, customs clearance, and local delivery. Each step is necessary to move your shipment safely and in a compliant manner from the USA to Kenya.
That’s why we quote 7–15 business days for air freight delivery:
To give you realistic and reliable delivery expectations
To account for airline handling, customs processing, and operational variability
To avoid delays caused by overpromising
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can my air freight shipment arrive sooner than 7 business days?
A: In many cases, yes. If your shipment aligns perfectly with airline cut-off times, flight availability, and clears customs quickly, it may arrive sooner. However, because air freight depends on airline schedules, transit routing, and customs processing, we quote 7–15 business days to ensure realistic and reliable expectations.
Q: What factors can cause air freight delays?
A: Delivery timelines may be extended due to factors such as airline capacity limitations or flight rescheduling, longer cargo layovers at transit airports, additional security or compliance checks at airports, or customs inspections in Kenya. These situations are common across the air freight industry and can occur at anytime.
Q: Is air freight still the fastest shipping option?
A: Yes. Despite the multiple steps involved, air freight remains the fastest international shipping method for delivery from the USA to Kenya. Ocean freight takes significantly longer and is better suited for large or non-urgent shipments.
Q: Does the 7–15 business day timeline include customs clearance and final delivery?
A: Yes. The quoted 7–15 business days covers the full process, including airline handling, international transit, customs clearance in Kenya, and final delivery to your doorstep in Kenya.
Article Metadata
Service Type: Air Freight – Shipping Only, Buy & Ship
Audience: Customers
Primary Topics: Air Freight Delivery Timeline, Transit Time, Customs Clearance
Related Articles: Air Freight Pricing, Order Status Explained, Customs & Duties
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