Licensed CHA clearance at BLR, BOM, MAA and major Indian airports. We handle electronics, pharmaceuticals, machinery, and perishables with 24–48 hour RMS clearance for 70–80% of shipments.
Sea Air Cargo Systems is an IATA-accredited freight forwarder and licensed customs house agent based in Bengaluru. We book air freight with major carriers, file Bills of Entry on ICEGATE, and clear cargo at BLR, BOM, MAA, DEL, HYD, and CCU airports. Most shipments clear within 3–7 business days.
We manage air imports across five core commodity groups, each with distinct regulatory requirements and handling protocols. Electronics and tech components cleared under BIS/WPC certification, including smartphones, laptops, and wireless modules requiring ETA approval. Pharmaceuticals and medical devices shipped under CDSCO registration with 2–8°C cold chain integrity maintained through BLR airport's temperature-controlled warehouse. Machinery and spare parts classified by precise HS codes, with used machinery requiring a Chartered Engineer certificate before customs release. Fashion and textiles monitored for fibre content declarations and quota compliance where applicable. Perishables and cold chain cargo — fresh produce, frozen seafood, and dairy — cleared through FSSAI with expedited 12–24 hour processing.
Importing by air to India follows a regulated six-step process. First, obtain your IEC code from DGFT — this takes 3–5 business days and is mandatory for all commercial imports. Second, place your purchase order and confirm Incoterms with your supplier; we recommend EXW or FOB so we control the freight leg. Third, we arrange air freight booking with IATA carriers and the Airway Bill (AWB) is issued upon cargo acceptance at origin. Fourth, we file the Bill of Entry on ICEGATE before the flight lands, submitting invoice, packing list, and AWB. Fifth, customs assesses duty and you pay online via ICEGATE — duty comprises BCD, SWS at 10% of BCD, and IGST at 5%, 12%, or 18%. Sixth, after the Out-of-Charge order is issued, cargo releases from the airport warehouse for final delivery. Total timeline from order to delivery: 7–14 days for most origins.
| Airport | City | Code | Our service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kempegowda International | Bengaluru | BLR | Primary base, dedicated CHA team |
| CSIA | Mumbai | BOM | Pharma and general cargo |
| Chennai Airport | Chennai | MAA | Electronics and auto parts |
| IGI Airport | Delhi | DEL | General cargo |
| Rajiv Gandhi Airport | Hyderabad | HYD | Pharma and IT cargo |
| Netaji Subhas Airport | Kolkata | CCU | General cargo |
| Origin | Typical transit (air) | Airlines we use |
|---|---|---|
| China (PVG/PEK) | 3–5 days to BLR | Air China, China Eastern, Qatar Airways |
| Germany (FRA) | 2–3 days | Lufthansa Cargo, Emirates |
| USA (JFK/ORD) | 3–5 days | United, Qatar Airways, Emirates |
| UAE (DXB) | 1–2 days | Emirates, Air Arabia |
| UK (LHR) | 2–3 days | British Airways, Virgin Atlantic |
| Singapore (SIN) | 1–2 days | Singapore Airlines, Air India |
Air import pricing breaks into freight and destination charges. The freight rate is calculated per kg on chargeable weight — the higher of actual weight or volumetric weight (L × W × H ÷ 5000). On top of base freight, carriers apply a fuel surcharge (typically 15–25% of base rate) and a security fee (INR 5–15 per kg). At destination, you pay terminal handling charges (THC) to the airline ground handler, an airline delivery order fee, and our customs clearance fee. Finally, Indian customs collects duty: Basic Customs Duty (BCD), Social Welfare Surcharge at 10% of BCD, and IGST at 5%, 12%, or 18% depending on your HS code. Use our Freight Cost Estimator for instant air freight pricing, or the Landing Cost Calculator to compute total landed cost including duty.
Air import clearance in India involves filing a Bill of Entry on ICEGATE, duty assessment by customs, duty payment, and physical or documentary examination. Under the Risk Management System, 70–80% of shipments clear without physical examination within 24–48 hours of filing.
At Kempegowda International Airport (BLR), air import clearance typically takes 3–7 business days from cargo arrival — 24–48 hours for RMS-cleared shipments, 5–10 days if selected for examination. Time-sensitive pharma and perishables are prioritised.
Standard air import documents: Airway Bill (AWB), commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, import licence (if applicable), and IEC code. Specific goods need additional documents — CDSCO for medical devices, BIS for electronics, FSSAI for food.
Import duty on air cargo is the same as sea freight — Basic Customs Duty (BCD) + Social Welfare Surcharge (SWS at 10% of BCD) + IGST (5%, 12%, or 18% depending on HS code). Air freight does not attract a duty surcharge over sea freight.
We handle air import clearance at BLR (Bengaluru), BOM (Mumbai), MAA (Chennai), DEL (Delhi), HYD (Hyderabad), and CCU (Kolkata). Our primary base is BLR airport with a dedicated customs team.
Air freight is charged on chargeable weight — the higher of actual weight (kg) or volumetric weight (L cm × W cm × H cm ÷ 5000). For dense cargo (machinery), actual weight dominates. For light bulky cargo (foam, garments), volumetric weight dominates.