New South Wales
Sydney
- SYD: Sydney Kingsford Smith, Australia's largest and busiest airport, handling the majority of the country's international air cargo
USA to Australia and Oceania
Transpacific Air Freight. Rates You Can Search Any Time.
Australia is one of the United States' most important Asia-Pacific trade partners. The transpacific air freight lane is well-served by direct and connecting services, and airrate.com gives freight forwarders live access to competitive rates from US origins to Australian destinations.
Rates available any time
Direct and connecting routes
Biosecurity guidance included
Direct and Asian hub routing.
Connecting services commonly route through Singapore, Hong Kong,
Tokyo or Seoul.
A Major Asia-Pacific Trade Lane
Strong demand for US technology, pharma and industrial cargo.
Australia is a high-income economy of 26 million people, with strong demand for US technology, pharmaceuticals, agricultural inputs, defense equipment and consumer goods.
airrate.com gives freight forwarders live access to competitive rates from US origins to Australian destinations.
Australian Airports We Cover
Gateways serving every Australian state.
Victoria
Melbourne
- MEL: Melbourne Tullamarine, Australia's second-largest cargo gateway and hub for the state's manufacturing, pharmaceutical and technology sectors
Queensland
Brisbane and Cairns
- BNE: Brisbane, Queensland gateway serving mining, agriculture and tourism
- CNS: Cairns, North Queensland
Western Australia
Perth
- PER: Perth, gateway to Western Australia's mining and resources sector, geographically the closest Australian airport to Southeast Asia and the Middle East
South Australia
Adelaide
- ADL: Adelaide, South Australia's gateway and a defence industry hub
Northern Territory and ACT
Darwin and Canberra
- DRW: Darwin, proximity to Southeast Asia makes this a growing logistics hub
- CBR: Canberra, government, defence and public sector hub
Oceania Beyond Australia
New Zealand and Pacific Islands
- AKL: Auckland, New Zealand, Oceania's second-largest economy
- CHC and WLG: Christchurch and Wellington, New Zealand
- NAN: Nadi, Fiji, Pacific Islands hub
- GUM: Guam, US territory and Pacific military and logistics hub
- PPG: Pago Pago, American Samoa
What Moves on This Corridor
High-value commercial and industrial cargo.
Technology and Electronics
Australia is a major importer of US technology.
Pharmaceuticals and Biotech
Medical products and biotechnology cargo move regularly on this corridor.
Automotive
Automotive parts and specialty vehicles.
Mining and Resources
Equipment and parts supporting Australia's mining and resources industries.
Aerospace and Defense
Aerospace and defense components. Australia is a close US ally under AUKUS.
Agricultural Inputs
Agricultural inputs and animal genetics.
Fashion and E-Commerce
Fashion, retail and cross-border e-commerce goods.
Transit Times
Direct and connecting transpacific options.
Connecting services via Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul commonly add one to two days compared with direct flights.
West Coast to Sydney or Melbourne
Typical transit from LAX, SFO or SEA to Sydney or Melbourne.
West Coast to Perth
Typical transit from US West Coast origins to Perth.
Midwest and East Coast
Typical transit to Australian capital cities.
Connecting Services
Common connections route through Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo or Seoul.
Airlines Covering the USA-Australia Lane
Direct transpacific carriers and Asian hub options.
Qantas Freight
Australia's national carrier with direct US-Australia services.
US Carriers
United Airlines Cargo, American Airlines Cargo and Delta Cargo provide transpacific services.
Singapore and Cathay Pacific
Singapore Airlines Cargo via SIN and Cathay Pacific Cargo via HKG.
Japanese Carriers
JAL Cargo and ANA Cargo via Tokyo Narita.
Korean Air Cargo
Connecting services via Seoul Incheon.
Air New Zealand Cargo
Oceania-specific routing via Auckland.
Australia Biosecurity
Important for every forwarder on this lane.
Australia has some of the world's most stringent biosecurity regulations, enforced by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
This is one of the most significant operational considerations for US-Australia freight, and getting it wrong is expensive.
Confirm permit requirements before departure.
Many cargo categories require an Australian Biosecurity Import Permit issued before the shipment departs. The Australian importer obtains the permit.
Other Regulatory Considerations
Export controls, taxes and route planning.
US Export Compliance
Australia is a close US ally and most exports face minimal restrictions. Defense and dual-use technology are governed by ITAR and EAR, with AUKUS-related exports subject to special licensing arrangements.
GST and Import Duties
Australia charges GST of 10% on most imports. Import duties vary by HS code. Advise importers on the full landed cost.
Any-Time Rate Access
The 14 to 17 hour time difference between the US and Australia makes any-time rate access genuinely important.
Compare Routing Options
Qantas, United, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and other carriers are searchable on one platform. Direct and Asian hub routing options are shown together.
Search USA to Australia air freight rates now.
Compare direct and connecting transpacific options to Australia, New Zealand and destinations across Oceania.