Air Freight Import to the UK via Heathrow — How Customs Clearance Works

How air cargo to the UK works — the basics

Air freight is the fastest but also the most expensive way to deliver goods. It is chosen when time is critical — for urgent, high-value, perishable or high-value-to-weight shipments (e.g. electronics, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, spare parts).

The main air cargo ports in the UK are:

• London Heathrow (LHR) — the largest, handling approximately 1.5 million tonnes of cargo per year. The cargo terminal is managed by Heathrow Airport Holdings.
• London Gatwick (LGW) — smaller cargo operation, but important for express and courier shipments.
• Manchester Airport (MAN) — the main airport for northern England and Scotland, important for importers in the region.
• East Midlands Airport (EMA) — specialises in overnight and express cargo (DHL, UPS, FedEx hub).
• London Stansted (STN) — an important cargo hub for charter cargo operators.

AWB — Air Waybill: the fundamental document for air freight imports

An AWB (Air Waybill) is the air freight equivalent of a CMR consignment note in road transport or a Bill of Lading in sea freight. It is a contract of carriage between the shipper (exporter) and the air carrier (airline or IATA agent).

Two types of AWB:

• Master AWB (MAWB) — issued by the airline. It covers the entire cargo load on the aircraft.
• House AWB (HAWB) — issued by the cargo agent (freight forwarder) for a specific importer. If you use a freight forwarder, the HAWB is your document.

The AWB number (11 digits, e.g. 020-12345678) is the unique identifier of the shipment throughout the entire logistics chain — from despatch at the airport of origin to collection at Heathrow.

What does an AWB contain?

• Shipper and consignee details
• Airport of origin and destination airport (IATA codes, e.g. WAW → LHR)
• Description of goods and HS/CN codes
• Gross weight and number of packages
• Declared value
• Handling instructions — e.g. "Keep refrigerated", "Fragile"
• Flight number and arrival date

ETSF — what it is and why it matters for imports via Heathrow

ETSF (External Temporary Storage Facility) is the temporary storage zone where all goods are held after arriving at the airport, before import customs clearance is completed. At Heathrow, ETSFs are dedicated warehouses managed by cargo operators (e.g. Swissport Cargo, IAG Cargo, dnata).

Key facts about ETSF:

• Goods may remain in the ETSF for up to 90 days without formal customs clearance being completed.
• After 90 days HMRC may impose penalties or goods may be deposited.
• ETSF operators charge storage fees — typically from day 1 or day 2 after arrival.
• To release goods from the ETSF, a release authority issued by the customs broker after completing the CDS declaration is required.

Import customs clearance procedure via Heathrow — step by step

Step 1: Preparing documents (before or on the day of arrival)

The customs broker needs a complete set of documents to submit an import declaration in the CDS (Customs Declaration Service — HMRC's system):

• AWB (number and copy of document)
• Commercial Invoice — with value, description, HS/CN code, Incoterms
• Packing list
• Certificates and licences (if required: phytosanitary, veterinary, CITES, import licence)
• Importer's EORI GB number

Step 2: Submitting a pre-arrival notification (before arrival)

For goods subject to phytosanitary (IPAFFS), veterinary (CHED) or chemical controls, the notification must be submitted before arrival — typically 4–24 hours in advance depending on the type of goods.

Step 3: Submitting the customs declaration in CDS

The customs broker submits a full Import Declaration in the CDS system. The system automatically routes declarations to clearance channels:

• Green Route ("1"): goods released automatically — no inspection.
• Orange Route (Documentary check — "2"): document check by an HMRC officer.
• Red Route (Physical examination — "3"): physical inspection of goods — opening and checking the contents.

Step 4: Payment of charges (duty and VAT)

Once the declaration is accepted by CDS, the importer or customs broker pays:

• Import duty — the rate depends on the goods' HS code and country of origin.
• Import VAT — 20% of the customs value plus duty. It is possible to account for this through Postponed VAT Accounting (PVA) — no upfront VAT payment; settled in the VAT return.

Step 5: Release of goods from the ETSF

Once the declaration has been released by HMRC, the customs broker provides the ETSF operator with an E2 release (or equivalent), which authorises the release of the goods from the warehouse. The importer or their freight forwarder then collects the goods.

What documents are required for air freight imports to the UK?

The list of documents that need to be prepared:

1. AWB (Air Waybill) — 11-digit number + copy of the document
2. Commercial Invoice — precise description of goods, HS codes, value, Incoterms, details of both parties
3. Packing list — weights, dimensions, quantities
4. EORI GB number — required to submit a customs declaration in the UK
5. Certificate of origin — if using tariff preferences (e.g. TCA for EU goods)
6. Special permits and certificates (depending on the goods):
   • Phytosanitary certificate (Import of Plants and Plant Products — IPAFFS)
   • Veterinary certificate / CHED (Common Health Entry Document) for products of animal origin
   • CITES certificate for protected species
   • Import licence for regulated goods (weapons, chemicals, medicines)

How much does customs clearance for air freight imports cost in the UK?

The total cost of import clearance comprises several elements:

Disclaimer: The price ranges shown are indicative — an exact quote will be provided once documents are submitted to our team.

Air freight vs sea freight — key differences in a UK customs context

Air freight imports via Gatwick and Manchester Airport

London Gatwick (LGW)

Gatwick has a smaller cargo infrastructure than Heathrow but handles express and courier shipments (DHL, FedEx, UPS have terminals here). Customs clearance follows the same process as Heathrow — through CDS. Storage charges are generally lower than at LHR.

Manchester Airport (MAN)

Manchester Airport Cargo Centre is an important gateway for importers in northern England and Scotland. It handles both shipments from Asia (direct routes from Shanghai, Beijing, Dubai) and transhipment cargo via Heathrow. Clearance times are comparable to LHR, and storage costs are slightly lower.

ENS — Entry Summary Declaration for air freight imports

Since 2024 the UK has introduced a mandatory ENS (Entry Summary Declaration) for air shipments arriving from countries outside the UK. The ENS is an advance safety and security declaration submitted by the IATA agent or carrier before the goods arrive. The cost of an ENS is from £25 to £50 per shipment.

The ENS is an independent procedure from the import customs declaration — even if you are not importing the goods definitively (e.g. transhipment transit), the ENS must still be submitted.

How to choose a customs broker for air freight imports via Heathrow

When selecting a customs broker to handle air freight imports via Heathrow, look for:

• Access to CDS: the broker must be registered with HMRC and have active CDS access.
• Experience with UK cargo airports: knowledge of ETSF operators (IAG Cargo, Swissport, dnata) and release processes.
• 24/7 availability: aircraft land at all hours. The customs broker should be available outside office hours.
• PVA handling: Postponed VAT Accounting avoids paying VAT upfront — the broker must be able to handle this.

Easyclearance.pl handles air freight imports through all major UK ports. Contact us before your shipment arrives — we will prepare the customs declaration in advance so your goods do not sit in the ETSF a moment longer than necessary.

Official sources

• GOV.UK: Import goods into the UK — HMRC, 2026
• GOV.UK: Customs Declaration Service (CDS) — HMRC, 2026
• GOV.UK: Moving goods into, out of or through Great Britain — HMRC, 2026

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What is an AWB and why is it important for air freight imports?

An AWB (Air Waybill) is a transport document serving as evidence of a contract of carriage between the shipper and the airline. The AWB number (11 digits) is the unique identifier of the shipment used by all parties in the chain — from the airport of origin to UK customs. The customs broker needs the AWB number to submit the import declaration in HMRC's CDS system.

How long does customs clearance at Heathrow take?

Standard import customs clearance via Heathrow takes from a few hours to 24 hours, provided all documents are complete and correct. On the green route, goods are released automatically once the CDS declaration is accepted. Delays occur on the orange route (document check — an additional 4–8 hours) or the red route (physical examination — 1–3 days).

What documents are needed for air freight clearance in the UK?

For import clearance via Heathrow you will need: the AWB number and a copy of the document, a commercial invoice with a precise description of goods and HS codes, a packing list, the importer's EORI GB number, a certificate of origin (if using TCA for EU goods), and any special certificates depending on the type of goods (phytosanitary, veterinary, CITES, import licences).

How much does customs clearance for air freight imports cost in the UK?

The cost of customs clearance alone ranges from £45 to £150 per shipment — indicative range, exact quote after documents are submitted. In addition: import duty (0–12% depending on goods and country of origin), import VAT (20%, PVA settlement available), airport handling charges (£50 to £200) and potential ETSF storage fees.

How does air freight differ from sea freight in a UK customs context?

The customs procedure is similar — both require an import declaration in HMRC's CDS system. Key differences: for air freight the key document is the AWB (not a B/L as in sea freight), goods are held in an ETSF at the airport (not a port depot), the storage period is 90 days (vs various port time limits), and storage charges at Heathrow are generally higher than at sea ports. Both types require the importer's EORI GB number.