NEWS & BLOG
Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-09-15 Origin: Site
Many exporters and factory owners face a costly nightmare: cargo ready for shipment, only to get rejected by airlines at the last minute. Booking failure, stuck goods, delayed customer orders — all triggered by misunderstood air freight weight and dimension limits.
If you’ve ever wondered whether heavy or oversized items can travel via international air freight, this guide will break down the rules, hidden restrictions and practical solutions you need. STU Supply Chain offers reliable airport-to-airport air freight agency service, cooperating with multiple airlines to deliver competitive rates for your shipments.
International air freight follows IATA regulations, and limits vary drastically between passenger aircraft belly holds and dedicated cargo planes.
Belly space is mostly for small consolidated shipments. The maximum weight per piece is 80 kg. For narrow-body aircraft, the limit drops to 50 kg per piece on many routes. This option fits samples, e-commerce parcels and small spare parts, but it cannot handle heavy or bulky goods.
Full freighters are far more powerful. The standard single-piece weight cap reaches 150 kg. For heavier cargo up to 500 kg per unit, airlines can approve the shipment if you submit loading plans 7–10 working days in advance. Some specialized cargo aircraft can even handle single pieces up to 1000 kg, subject to airline review.
Beyond per-piece weight, two often-overlooked rules can derail your shipment: total shipment weight quota and aircraft floor load capacity. Aircraft cargo floors have strict load limits. Concentrated heavy pressure on one spot may damage the plane structure, and airlines will reject such cargo immediately. Besides, your total shipment weight must match the allocated payload of your booked flight. During peak shipping seasons, airlines tighten weight limits further, so early planning is critical.
Yes — but only on dedicated full cargo aircraft. Passenger belly holds cannot accept out-of-gauge shipments.
In the logistics industry, cargo is classified as oversized when:
One single side exceeds 1.6 meters
Unit weight exceeds 150 kg
Total sum of length, width and height exceeds 300 cm
Goods like large machinery parts, engineering components and moulds fall into this category. They cannot fit standard ULD pallets. For these shipments, you need a custom logistics solution: center-of-gravity drawings, reinforced packaging plans and airline approval before loading.
Important reminder: Oversized air freight does not have universal fixed standards. Final approval always depends on airline assessment. Extra fees for reinforcement and special handling will apply. For extremely out-of-gauge goods, special large cargo freighters must be arranged. Always consult your freight forwarder well ahead of time to confirm aircraft availability and acceptance rules, to avoid shipment delays.
STU Supply Chain acts as your air freight agent for airport-to-airport service. We maintain direct partnerships with multiple airlines, which enables us to secure competitive pricing and stable space allocation. Whether you ship standard consolidated goods, heavy single pieces or evaluate options for oversized air cargo, our team reviews your cargo dimensions and weight upfront to help you avoid booking failures and costly shipment hold-ups.
Contact us to get your air freight quotation and cargo feasibility check.
