One booking, one contact
Booking in China, clearance in Indonesia, the island feeder and final delivery are run by one team. You are not chasing three suppliers, three timelines and three sets of documents.
Single point of contactOuter Island Air Freight · Direct from China, Then a Local Feeder
Direct from China to Indonesia, then onward
to the island airport — one booking
In short: Air cargo from China to Indonesia
Morowali, Kendari, Balikpapan, Ternate, Jayapura — these places are not unreachable at any price, the chain has simply never been joined up. We run the direct leg from China, Indonesian clearance and the island feeder as one line, under a single point of contact.
General cargo, battery-powered goods, dangerous goods, temperature-controlled and out-of-gauge — we tell you what flies before we talk price
Our capability
Key figures (free to quote)
| Item | Reference figure |
|---|---|
| Air freight transit | 3-7 days door to airport, excluding clearance. |
| Air freight rate | USD 4-9 per kg of chargeable weight. |
| Jakarta (Tanjung Priok) standard clearance | 2-4 working days (complete documents, no inspection). |
| Java island delivery | 2-4 days. |
| Outer island delivery | 5-10 days including onward transfer. |
| Jakarta inspection (yellow line) | 3 working days standard + 7 working days inspection. |
| Jakarta red line | 3 working days standard + 10 working days red-line handling. |
| Semarang (Tanjung Emas) standard clearance | 2-4 working days. |
| Surabaya (Tanjung Perak) standard clearance | 2-4 working days. |
Reference values for standard cases (complete documents, no inspection, outside the red-line season). Actual figures follow current carrier and customs notices. Last reviewed 2026-09-27.
Key questions on this page
How many days does air freight from China to Indonesia take?
3-7 days door to airport, excluding clearance.
What is the air freight rate per kg to Indonesia?
USD 4-9 per kg of chargeable weight.
What is the typical import duty (BM) in Indonesia?
Commonly 0-15% (set by HS code; FORM E under ACFTA brings most lines to 0%).
What is the Indonesian import de minimis threshold?
Consignments under USD 3 are duty-free (PPN still applies).
How many days does Jakarta city delivery take?
1-3 days after customs release.
How many days does delivery within Java take?
2-4 days.
Answers are reference values for standard cases; actual figures follow current carrier and customs notices (reviewed 2026-09-27).
Six capabilities behind this island lane
Outer-island air freight is not won by quoting tricks. It comes down to three things: whether the chain is joined, who holds the clearance, and whether aircraft limits were counted in before booking.
Transfer point chosen backwards from the destination
Not everything through Jakarta. Eastern Kalimantan lands closer via Surabaya, northern Sulawesi via Manado, and Papua gets extra weather and aircraft buffer. We pick the transfer point that cuts the longest backhaul.
One backhaul removedOur own licensed PPJK in Indonesia
Clearance at the landing port is done by our own licensed broker: filings go straight into CEISA 4.0 and we watch status ourselves — not outsourced, not passed on. When clearance stalls, our own people are on the floor.
Licensed · self-filingAircraft limits flagged before dispatch
Island feeders are mostly turboprops, with far tighter hatches and per-piece limits than trunk services. We plan oversize around a suitable aircraft before booking, so nothing is stranded at the hub.
Oversize planned up frontBelly hold and freighter, two channels
Routine cargo moves on passenger belly capacity — frequent and cost-efficient. Bulk and project cargo moves on freighter capacity, loaded by pallet, transferable without breakdown. We choose by volume and deadline.
Channel matched to volumeSpecial cargo assessed per shipment, answered plainly
Lithium batteries, dangerous goods, temperature-controlled and out-of-gauge cargo are assessed per shipment. Before you commit we state which leg can carry it, which cannot, and what documents are needed. Anything doubtful gets tested first.
Clear answer before bookingHow the chain runs
Four steps from a Chinese factory to an island gate
Only four steps, each with its own limits. Transit time and price are the sum of the four.
1
1 · Book from the nearest origin
We pick the nearest direct departure city to your factory; where there is no direct service, cargo consolidates domestically to Guangzhou, Shenzhen or Shanghai.
Booking & departure
2
2 · Clearance and release on landing
Import clearance at the port of landing. Filed by our own licensed broker; green lane releases in as little as 1–2 working days.
Clearance & release
3
3 · Domestic feeder to the island
An Indonesian domestic carrier flies the cargo to the island airport. Sulawesi, Kalimantan, Maluku and Papua each have their own routes and aircraft types.
Domestic feeder
4
4 · Road delivery to the gate
After landing, road delivery to the industrial park, factory or project site, with proof of delivery returned to you.
Delivery to gateCoverage
Six regions, 40+ island airports
When a customer asks whether you can reach a place, look it up here.
Sulawesi
Makassar UPGKendari KDIPalu PLWMorowali MOHLuwuk LUWGorontalo GTOManado MDC
Nickel smelters and industrial parks, mining equipment, project cargo
Kalimantan
Balikpapan BPNBanjarmasin BDJPontianak PNKSamarinda SRITarakan TRKPalangkaraya PKY
Oil, gas and petrochemicals, new capital development, palm and timber processing
North Maluku & Maluku
Ternate TTEAmbon AMQKao (Halmahera) KAO
Nickel industrial parks, fisheries and cold chain, inter-island supply
Papua & West Papua
Jayapura DJJTimika TIMSorong SOQManokwari MKWBiak BIK
Copper mining supplies, government and infrastructure projects, remote site resupply
Sumatra
Medan KNOBatam BTHPalembang PLMPadang PDGJambi DJBLampung TKGPekanbaru PKU
Plantation and agro-processing, electronics manufacturing, energy projects
Java secondary gateways
Surabaya SUBSemarang SRGYogyakarta JOG
East Java industrial distribution, Central Java manufacturing and textiles
Airports reachable on a routine basis. A few park airstrips and special sites need access confirmed in advance — we answer that before you commit.
Destination index
Outer island destinations, city by city — these places are reachable
Look up your city: airport code, typical cargo and how the last leg runs. Not in the table? Send us the address and we will check it case by case.
| Destination · airport code | Region | Typical cargo | How the last leg runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morowali MOH | Central Sulawesi | Nickel park spares and equipment, project cargo | Lands at a regional airport, final road leg into the park |
| Kendari KDI | Southeast Sulawesi | Nickel mining and smelter supplies, spares | Direct domestic trunk service; city and park reachable |
| Luwuk LUW | Central Sulawesi | Nickel park supplies, urgent spares | Regional flight, then road connection into the park |
| Palu PLW | Central Sulawesi | Infrastructure materials, mining and agro equipment | Served by domestic regional flights |
| Gorontalo GTO | Gorontalo | Fisheries and agro-processing equipment | Regional flight with a final road leg |
| Manado MDC | North Sulawesi | Urgent cargo, fisheries cold chain, inter-island supply | Direct from South China; the near-side gate to northern Sulawesi and North Maluku |
| Makassar UPG | South Sulawesi | Industrial spares, building materials, regional distribution | Trunk airport and the main transfer point for Sulawesi and the east |
| Balikpapan BPN | East Kalimantan | Oil, gas and petrochemical equipment, new capital construction | Trunk airport with wide-body and freighter capability |
| Samarinda SRI | East Kalimantan | Mining and building materials, project cargo | Served by regional flights |
| Banjarmasin BDJ | South Kalimantan | Coal and palm equipment, spares | Served by trunk flights |
| Pontianak PNK | West Kalimantan | Agro-processing, electronics manufacturing inputs | Served by trunk flights |
| Tarakan TRK | North Kalimantan | Border trade goods, seafood and cold chain | Regional flight with a final road leg |
| Palangkaraya PKY | Central Kalimantan | Palm and timber processing equipment | Served by regional flights |
| Ternate TTE | North Maluku | Nickel park and fisheries supplies, inter-island resupply | Regional flight, connecting towards Halmahera |
| Kao (Halmahera) KAO | North Maluku | Nickel smelter park spares and consumables | Small regional airstrip with a final road leg into the park |
| Ambon AMQ | Maluku | Fisheries cold chain, inter-island supply | Served by trunk flights |
| Jayapura DJJ | Papua | Government and infrastructure projects, regional distribution | Eastern trunk airport; allow weather buffer |
| Timika TIM | Papua | Copper mining supplies and spares | Airport shared with mining operations; confirm ground acceptance early |
| Sorong SOQ | West Papua | Oil and gas supplies, seafood cold chain | Served by trunk flights |
| Manokwari MKW | West Papua | Government projects, forestry and agro equipment | Served by regional flights |
| Biak BIK | Papua | Fisheries and inter-island supply | Regional flight with lower frequency — plan ahead |
| Medan KNO | North Sumatra | Plantation equipment, agro-processing, electronics inputs | Trunk airport and the main gateway to northern Sumatra |
| Batam BTH | Riau Islands | Electronics manufacturing inputs, bonded processing goods | Mature bonded and processing zone; air can combine with sea and land |
| Palembang PLM | South Sumatra | Energy projects, chemicals and building materials | Served by trunk flights |
| Padang PDG | West Sumatra | Fisheries cold chain, agro-processing equipment | Served by trunk flights |
| Pekanbaru PKU | Riau | Palm and pulp equipment, spares | Served by trunk flights |
| Jambi DJB | Jambi | Plantation supplies and spares | Served by regional flights |
| Lampung TKG | Lampung | Agro-processing, sugar and cassava equipment | Regional flight with convenient road connection |
| Surabaya SUB | East Java | Industrial distribution, manufacturing spares | Trunk airport and the distribution origin for the east |
| Semarang SRG | Central Java | Textile and manufacturing equipment, spares | Served by trunk flights |
| Yogyakarta JOG | Yogyakarta | Light industry and crafts, education project goods | Served by trunk flights |
Destinations reachable on a routine basis. Where a park site or special site needs access approval, we answer that before you commit.
Origins in China
Pick the nearest direct departure point
The direct leg sets the ceiling on transit time. Origins and destinations are grouped below — flight numbers change seasonally, so we book against what actually operates on your date.
| Origin | Direct destinations | Frequency and capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Guangzhou CAN / Shenzhen SZX | Jakarta CGK, Surabaya SUB, Manado MDC, Bali DPS | Several daily · wide-body and narrow-body |
| Shanghai PVG / Hangzhou HGH | Jakarta CGK | Daily · large wide-body belly |
| Xiamen XMN / Fuzhou FOC | Jakarta CGK, Surabaya SUB, Bali DPS | Several weekly |
| Wuhan WUH / Changsha CSX | Jakarta CGK | Several weekly · Central China ships locally |
| Nanjing NKG | Jakarta CGK | Several weekly · East China ships locally |
| Chengdu TFU / Chongqing CKG / Kunming KMG | Jakarta CGK, Bali DPS | Daily or several weekly · Southwest ships locally |
| Hong Kong HKG | Jakarta CGK, Surabaya SUB, Bali DPS | Several daily · freighter capacity included |
| Other cities | No direct service | Consolidate by truck or domestic air to Guangzhou / Shenzhen / Shanghai |
What we can carry
What we accept, on what basis, and what we refuse
The section most often left vague. All in one place, so nothing surfaces at the airport.
| Cargo type | Acceptance | What is required |
|---|---|---|
| General cargo: spares, hardware, tools, samples, packaging | Routinely accepted | Packing list, invoice and HS code; state use and material |
| Machinery, complete units and spares, instruments | Routinely accepted | Provide dimensions, per-piece weight, centre of gravity and lift points; crate with lifting access |
| Precision instruments, high-value and fragile goods | Accepted with packing and insurance | Crate with shock mounting and tilt indicators; full-value insurance recommended |
| Lithium batteries (contained / packed with / standalone) | Accepted with documents | UN38.3 test report, MSDS, package marking and proper shipping name; declared by watt-hour class and packing method |
| Dangerous goods DGR (flammable, corrosive, oxidising etc.) | Assessed per shipment | MSDS, hazard classification report, compliant packaging and certificate; space confirmed per shipment by UN number and class |
| Liquids, powders, pastes (non-hazardous) | Accepted with test report | Non-hazardous test report plus MSDS; leak-proof packaging with secondary sealing |
| Temperature-controlled (pharmaceuticals, reagents, perishables) | Assessed per shipment | State temperature range and required duration; choose active or passive containers; confirm destination handling in advance |
| Out-of-gauge (overlength, overweight, irregular) | Per shipment · aircraft-dependent | Island feeders are mostly turboprops with tight hatch and per-piece limits; oversize usually needs wide-body belly or freighter |
| Live animals AVI, exhibition goods, temporary imports | Assessed per shipment | Quarantine permit and destination acceptance; for temporary imports arrange ATA Carnet or a guarantee in advance |
| Undeclared dangerous goods, unidentified goods without MSDS, prohibited items | Not accepted | Air carriage has zero tolerance for misdeclaration: cargo is returned and liability follows. When in doubt, test before booking |
Special cargo
Six special cargo types and how the air lane takes them
The sections above cover capability, scope and transit. These six cargo types are the ones that most often stall at acceptance — battery-powered goods, dangerous goods, temperature-controlled cargo, out-of-gauge pieces, liquids and powders, and high-value precision items. Each gets its own page with acceptance conditions and cautions spelled out.
Air freight of lithium batteries | Acceptance, piece limits and transit basisThe bottleneck for Air freight of lithiu…Air freight of dangerous goods | Acceptance, piece limits and transit basisThe bottleneck for Air freight of danger…Air freight of temperature-controlled cargo | Acceptance, piece limits and transit basisThe bottleneck for Air freight of temper…Air freight of outsized cargo | Acceptance, piece limits and transit basisThe bottleneck for Air freight of outsiz…Air freight of liquids, powders and pastes | Acceptance, piece limits and transit basisThe bottleneck for Air freight of liquid…Air freight of precision and high-value cargo | Acceptance, piece limits and transit basisThe bottleneck for Air freight of precis…
Official sources
Independently verifiable channels below. Rates, restrictions and lead times follow each agency's latest publication.
- Pelindo (Indonesia port operator) — Port operations, terminals and vessel schedules
- International Maritime Organization (IMO) — Maritime safety and international shipping rules
- Indonesia National Single Window (INSW) — Unified platform for Indonesia import/export filing, licensing and documents
- International Air Transport Association (IATA) — Air freight rules and agent accreditation
- Directorate General of Customs and Excise (Bea Cukai) — Clearance process, PIB filing and customs rules
Aircraft and limits
How large and heavy a piece can be
What the island leg can take depends on the aircraft rostered that day. Tell us about oversize early and we will plan around a suitable type.
| Aircraft | Hatch / loading | Per-piece weight | Size limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop regional (ATR class, the island workhorse) | approx. 126 × 150 cm | approx. 450 kg per piece | longest side approx. 185 cm |
| Narrow-body belly (737 / A320 class) | approx. 122 × 86 cm (bulk door) | bulk-loaded pieces; tonne-level on pallets | limited by door size and floor loading |
| Wide-body belly (A330 / 777 class) | accepts standard ULD pallets | several tonnes per piece | the main channel for heavy and large pieces |
| Freighter (incl. mainland China and Hong Kong) | palletised loading; overlength needs a wide-body nose door | largest capacity | transfers without breakdown, scheduled per project |
Transit times
Working days, regional buffer included
All figures are working days, not calendar days. For urgent cargo, state the latest acceptable arrival and we will plan backwards from it.
5–6.5 hInternational flightAirborne time from South China to Jakarta
1–2Clearance release (working days)Green lane at its fastest; yellow and red take longer
Same / next dayDomestic feeder legWeather and aircraft changes are common; add 1–2 days buffer
3–10Door to door (working days)Jakarta–Surabaya 3–5; Sulawesi & Kalimantan 5–8; Papua 7–10
Request a quote
Outer island lane · priced per shipment
Send the six items below in one go and pricing usually goes out the same day. Rates move with route and season, so we price against current space rather than freezing numbers on this page.
Outer island lane · priced per shipment
Send the six items below in one go and pricing usually goes out the same day. Rates move with route and season, so we price against current space rather than freezing numbers on this page.
- Product name and use — not just "spares"; say which machine and which part
- HS code (we can look it up, but supplying it is faster)
- Piece count and dimensions of each piece, in centimetres
- Per-piece and total weight, in kilograms
- Full delivery address — industrial park, factory gate, contact phone
- Target arrival date, and the hard deadline if there is one
Ask on WhatsAppWeCom SupportEmail your cargo listOnline cost estimator
Please mention "outer island air freight". For batteries, liquids, powders or dangerous goods, include specifications and document status.
FAQ
Thirteen questions customers ask most
Which Chinese cities fly direct to Indonesia?
Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Xiamen, Fuzhou, Wuhan, Nanjing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Haikou and Hong Kong have direct services to Jakarta, Surabaya, Manado or Bali. Schedules shift seasonally, so we book against the flights actually operating on your date. Cities without a direct link consolidate domestically to Guangzhou, Shenzhen or Shanghai first.
Can I fly direct from China to Morowali, Kendari or Balikpapan?
There is no scheduled non-stop service from China to those island airports. The standard routing is a direct flight to Jakarta, Surabaya or Manado, customs clearance there, an onward domestic carrier flight to the island airport, and final delivery by road. We pick the transfer point that avoids the longest backhaul for your destination.
How long does air freight to the outer islands take?
Reference ranges: 3–5 working days around Jakarta and Surabaya, 5–8 for Sulawesi and Kalimantan, 7–10 for Papua. These are working days and already include buffer for the weather and aircraft changes common on regional feeders. For urgent cargo, tell us the latest acceptable arrival date and we will plan the workable path.
Can lithium batteries and powered products fly?
Yes, but only under the rules: UN38.3 test report, MSDS, correct shipping name and package marking, declared by watt-hour class and packing method (contained in, packed with, or standalone). Misdeclaration or missing documents leads to return of the shipment, so give us battery specifications and packing method in one go before booking.
Do you carry dangerous goods?
Yes, assessed per shipment: MSDS, hazard classification report, compliant packaging and certificate, with space confirmed by UN number and class. Some classes and some regional aircraft will not accept them — we tell you up front which leg can carry it and which cannot, before you commit.
How large or heavy can a single piece be?
It depends on the aircraft rostered that day. Island feeders are mostly turboprops: hatch roughly 126 × 150 cm, about 450 kg per piece, longest side about 185 cm. Wide-body belly holds standard ULD pallets and several tonnes per piece; overlength needs a wide-body freighter nose door. Quote us dimensions, per-piece weight, centre of gravity and lift points.
Which documents do I need?
The basics are commercial invoice, packing list, and the air waybill, plus the Indonesian importer's API / NIB and tax number. Regulated categories need their specific permits or inspection papers, and preference claims need a certificate of origin prepared early. We check every document field before booking so problems surface before the cargo lands, not after.
Can you reach nickel parks such as Morowali IMIP?
Yes. The standard routing is a direct flight from China, clearance on landing, an onward domestic regional flight to the nearest airport, then road transport into the park. Give us the full delivery address — park name, factory gate, contact phone — and we will pick the nearest airport and confirm the final road leg. If a park site requires prior access approval, we tell you before you commit.
How do Kendari, Luwuk, Palu and Gorontalo work?
All are on Sulawesi. Kendari has direct domestic trunk service; Luwuk, Palu and Gorontalo are served by regional flights with a road connection after landing. Reference transit for Sulawesi is 5–8 working days, depending on feeder schedule and the final distance.
Can you reach Balikpapan, Samarinda, Tarakan and Pontianak?
Yes. Balikpapan is East Kalimantan's trunk airport with wide-body and freighter capability, and a common entry point for new capital construction cargo. Samarinda, Tarakan and Pontianak are covered by trunk or regional flights, with road delivery to the gate after landing.
Can you reach Jayapura, Timika and Sorong in Papua?
Yes, but Papua is the longest and most weather-exposed direction in the country: allow 7–10 working days. Timika's airport is shared with mining operations, so ground acceptance must be confirmed early. Plan ahead and leave weather buffer.
How do Medan, Batam and Palembang in Sumatra work?
There is no stable scheduled non-stop from China to Sumatra. By air, cargo flies direct from China and then connects domestically to Medan, Batam, Palembang, Padang or Pekanbaru. Batam's bonded and processing zone is mature and links well with local road transport. Tell us the destination and deadline and we will quote the workable path against current domestic capacity.
What is the fastest way to get a quote?
Give us six things at once: product name and use, HS code (or we will look it up), piece count and dimensions, per-piece and total weight, full delivery address, and target arrival date. For batteries, liquids, powders or dangerous goods, state specifications and document status too. With complete information, quotes usually go out the same day.