Air freight Ireland: one gateway, one team.

Woodland Group is an Irish air freight forwarder operating through Dublin Airport, with IATA accreditation, AEO certification and our own customs team. Our Dublin air freight desk carries more than 60 years of combined experience, with next-day delivery available throughout Ireland.

Accredited where it counts for Irish air freight
One airport, 92% of the cargo in Ireland

Irish airports handled 207,887 tonnes of air freight in 2025, an increase of 9% on the previous year. Dublin accounted for approximately 92% of this volume, making it Ireland's principal international air freight gateway. Shannon also plays an important role, while Cork and other regional airports provide additional routing options where appropriate.

Dublin's position as Ireland's principal air freight gateway shapes how we operate. With our experienced team in Dublin and an established nationwide delivery network, Woodland Group coordinates international air freight movements into and out of Ireland, while considering alternative gateways where they offer a more suitable routing.

Ireland is an important market for air freight imports, particularly where businesses require faster delivery than sea freight can provide. Economy air freight offers a practical alternative for shipments that need to arrive sooner without the cost of premium express services, making it an important part of our Irish air freight offering.

Across Woodland Group, we handle over 30 million kg of air cargo annually. In Ireland, our team supports businesses with everything from planned international shipments to urgent cargo movements where delivery requirements have changed.

Source: Central Statistics Office, Aviation Statistics, full year 2025.

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Air freight in and out of Ireland

Our air freight services in Ireland range from economy and consolidated options through to direct, express and time-critical movements. We assess each shipment against your required transit time, routing and budget to recommend the most appropriate service before anything is booked.

Air freight into Ireland

Dublin is our primary gateway for inbound air freight to Ireland. Wherever possible, we manage shipments directly at the airport, reducing unnecessary handovers and maintaining visibility from arrival through to final delivery.


Our in-house customs team manages Irish import declarations, supported by Woodland Group's AEO certification. Working alongside our air freight operation, they help coordinate customs clearance and onward delivery across the Republic of Ireland, with services into Northern Ireland managed according to the applicable customs requirements.

Explore our air freight service brochure

Download our air freight brochure to see how we move air cargo: service levels, lanes and gateways, specialist handling, and the reporting that comes with it.

  • Every air freight service level, compared
  • Our lanes, gateways and accreditations
  • A worked chargeable weight example

If you're ready to discuss your air freight needs, get a quote below or reach out to one of our specialists to get a detailed breakdown of how Woodland Group can support your business.

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Get your Ireland air freight quote

Tell us where your shipment is moving, along with its weight, dimensions and service requirements. Our Ireland air freight team will review your details and provide a tailored quotation, including suitable routing options and estimated transit times.

iBusiness shipments onlyWoodland Group is a B2B logistics provider. We do not handle personal effects, household removals or individual parcels.

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What to know when moving air freight to and from Ireland

Why transit times vary, and what to plan for

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The most common misunderstanding in Irish air freight is that air automatically means next day, and that a booking guarantees a flight. Neither is true. Transit depends on routing, airline schedule and available capacity.

In practice, several factors can affect air freight transit times, including peak-season capacity, available bellyhold space on passenger flights, cargo that requires specialist screening, and seasonal changes to direct services. We provide a realistic transit time based on the routing and capacity available when you book, rather than promising a schedule that cannot be delivered.

Typical transit times into Dublin

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Airport to airport, and door to door, on the three lanes we are asked about most:

Route

Northern Ireland Air Freight: getting customs right

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Air freight to Northern Ireland requires different customs considerations from freight destined for the Republic of Ireland. Depending on the shipment, its routing and the consignee's circumstances, goods may need to move under customs transit arrangements before reaching their final destination.

We can route cargo through Dublin and manage the appropriate onward customs process into Northern Ireland, including movement under a T1 transit document where required. Alternatively, other customs clearance arrangements may be available depending on the goods, consignee and applicable requirements.

Our teams assess the routing and customs requirements before the shipment moves, so the appropriate process is established before the cargo arrives.

Customs clearance, filed by our own team

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Woodland Group is AEO certified and files Irish import and export declarations in-house. Our customs team works alongside our air freight operation, keeping freight, clearance and compliance with the same team.

Many of the questions we receive relate to customs, import requirements and regulatory controls at destination. We work through these requirements before the goods move, helping to identify potential issues before they result in delays or additional costs.

Temperature-controlled and specialist handling

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For temperature-sensitive and specialist cargo, we can arrange controlled handling from collection through to uplift, including appropriate packaging, monitoring and priority handling based on the requirements of the shipment and route.

Cargo insurance is also available for air freight shipments, providing additional protection for high-value or sensitive goods beyond the standard limits of carrier liability.

Known consignor support

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If you regularly export from Ireland and want to secure cargo at your own premises, we can support you through the Known Consignor application process and help assess whether it is appropriate for your operation and shipment volumes.

Where Known Consignor status is not required, we can manage the necessary air cargo security and screening requirements as part of your air freight booking.

Digital visibility

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Woodland Online gives you a single, live view of your air freight shipments from booking through to final delivery. Track milestones, access documents, view pricing and CO2e emissions data, and see exceptions as they happen - all in one place.

Beyond individual shipment tracking, Woodland Online gives you visibility across your wider supply chain, with reporting that helps you monitor performance, identify recurring issues and understand activity across lanes and shipments.

And if your business already works through its own systems, we integrate with them. API and ERP connections can feed shipment status, documents and data directly into your existing workflows, giving your teams the visibility they need without another system to manage.

Trusted by Irish importers and exporters
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"Working with Woodland has been imperative for itsu [grocery] to make carbon reductions in our supply chain."

Rebecca Allen

Senior Sustainability Advisor, itsu [grocery]


"Exemplary customer service, improved operational efficiency, a customer-centric team, and fantastic IT support."

Sophie Hayes Green

Operations Manager, LoveRaw


“It [Our relationship] has evolved from a supplier-customer relationship to a partnership, which is underlined by our mutual goals in the area of sustainability, cost efficiency and customer experience."

Jan van Ballegooijen

Who Gives A Crap

"Woodland Group has helped us to streamline and simplify our complex supply chain ... They truly understand the specialist requirements at all levels and locations."

Renash Gopie

Director, Presperse Corporation

Air freight through Dublin, connected across Ireland
Dublin

The centre of our Irish operations, bringing together air freight and in-house customs expertise.

Cork & the south

Collected and delivered by us, flying through Dublin.

Shannon & the west

Shannon routings where they suit, Dublin where they do not.

Belfast & Northern Ireland

Air freight services to and from Northern Ireland, with routing via Dublin or alternative gateways and customs arrangements managed according to shipment requirements.

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Air Freight Ireland FAQs

Which airport does Woodland Group use for air freight into Ireland?

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Dublin Airport is our primary gateway for air freight both into and out of Ireland, and wherever possible we take control of the shipment at Dublin ourselves and manage final delivery from there. Dublin handled 191,838 tonnes of air freight in 2025, around 92% of all air cargo through Irish airports, which is why it carries the widest choice of direct services and the deepest capacity. Shannon is available where a routing genuinely suits it. Next-day delivery is available throughout Ireland from our Dublin operation.

How long does air freight take into Dublin?

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From New York JFK, air freight into Dublin runs on a daily direct service and takes 2 to 3 days door to door. From Los Angeles it is also a daily direct service, at 3 to 4 days door to door. From Shanghai it is 3 to 4 days airport to airport on an indirect routing, giving 5 to 6 days door to door, or 2 to 3 days where a seasonal direct service is running. Transit times vary with routing, airline schedule and capacity, so we confirm a realistic figure at the point of booking.

How much air freight goes through Irish airports each year?

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Irish airports handled 207,887 tonnes of air freight in 2025, up 9% on 2024, according to Central Statistics Office aviation statistics. Dublin handled 191,838 tonnes of that, close to 92% of the national total, and Shannon 16,022 tonnes. Cork and Ireland West Knock handled 15 and 13 tonnes respectively across the whole year. Air freight in Ireland is, in practice, air freight through Dublin.

Can you deliver air freight to Northern Ireland?

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Yes. Woodland Group coordinates air freight deliveries to Northern Ireland, using Dublin or alternative gateways depending on the shipment's origin, destination and service requirements.

Goods arriving through Dublin may require customs transit arrangements, such as a T1 declaration, before onward movement into Northern Ireland. The appropriate process depends on the goods, their customs status, the importer and the applicable requirements under the Windsor Framework.

Our air freight and customs teams assess these requirements before shipment, helping businesses select suitable routings and arrange the necessary documentation and clearance.

What is economy air freight, and when is it the right choice?

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Economy air freight uses indirect routings and less time-sensitive capacity to move cargo at a materially lower rate than a direct service, while still taking days rather than the weeks an ocean shipment needs. It is usually the right answer when an ocean booking no longer meets the delivery date but the budget has not changed to match. Many of our Irish air freight enquiries start exactly there, and economy is the option we end up recommending more often than any other.

Does air freight guarantee next-day delivery?

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No. Air freight is the fastest international mode but it is not an express courier service, and a booking does not guarantee a seat on a specific flight. Transit depends on routing, airline schedule and the capacity available on the day, and it can differ by several days between a direct and an indirect routing. Peak season capacity, passenger baggage taking priority in the hold, and cargo that is too dense for standard x-ray screening all affect it. We give a realistic transit at booking rather than a best case.

What commodities do you move by air to and from Ireland?

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Woodland Group handles a broad range of commercial air freight shipments to and from Ireland, including industrial supplies, workwear and sports apparel, aircraft and engineering components, chemicals, adhesives, and health and beauty products.

Our Ireland air freight team also supports time-critical shipments and cargo requiring specialist handling, including eligible dangerous goods, subject to airline acceptance, classification and documentation requirements.

We focus on business-to-business freight and do not handle personal effects or household removals.

Who handles customs clearance for air freight imports into Ireland?

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Woodland Group files Irish import and export declarations in-house as part of the air freight service, under AEO certification, so you do not need to appoint a separate customs broker. The customs team sits alongside the Dublin air freight desk, which means one party is accountable for the freight and the entry. Customs and import requirements at destination are the single most common question we are asked on Irish air freight enquiries, and we would rather answer it before the goods move.

Can you handle dangerous goods by air from Dublin?

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Yes. Woodland Group's Ireland air freight team is trained in IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) and can coordinate the movement of eligible dangerous goods by air, including certain chemicals, adhesives and other regulated products.

Acceptance depends on the classification of the goods, packaging, documentation, airline restrictions and available routing. Provide us with the relevant Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and shipment details, and our team can review the requirements before confirming suitable transport options.

Do you offer air charter or hand-carry from Ireland?

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Woodland Group Ireland provides express, direct and economy air freight services, consolidation, time-critical shipments and aircraft on ground (AOG) support.

Dedicated air charter and hand-carry courier services are not part of our standard Ireland offering. However, our team can review urgent or complex shipment requirements and advise on the most suitable available transport options, based on transit time, cargo specifications and budget.

Why do air freight transit times into Ireland vary so much?

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The main reason is the difference between direct and indirect routings, which on some lanes is several days. Beyond that, capacity constraints during peak season, passenger baggage taking priority in the hold of commercial flights, cargo that is too dense or otherwise unsuitable for standard x-ray screening, and seasonal changes to which direct services operate all move the number. Setting a realistic expectation at the outset is the single biggest thing that makes an Irish air freight move go smoothly.

How do I get an air freight quote in Ireland?

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Send us the lane, the gross weight and dimensions, the commodity and the date you need it there, and we will come back with a routing, a rate and a realistic transit. If the date is tight we will tell you which service level actually meets it, and if a cheaper option would still land in time we will tell you that too. For a firm quote we need dimensions rather than an estimated weight, because chargeable weight on low-density cargo is usually set by volume.

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Talk to the Dublin air freight team

Tell us your lane, your volumes and the date it has to be there, and we will come back with a routing, a rate and a transit you can plan around.

Lynda Butler
Air Freight Supervisor, Woodland Group Ireland

Lynda has 30 years in air freight and supervises Woodland Group's air freight operation in Ireland from Dublin. She advises customers on routing, service level and customs requirements for time-critical and dangerous goods cargo moving into and out of Ireland.

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