Finnair Cargo tracking

What is Finnair Cargo?

Finnair Cargo is the dedicated air freight division of Finnair, the flag carrier of Finland and one of the oldest continuously operating airlines in the world. Founded in 1923, Finnair has operated cargo services alongside its passenger network for a full century, growing from basic freight transport into a specialized operation focused on temperature-controlled logistics and long-haul intercontinental air freight. The cargo division operates from its primary base at the COOL Nordic Cargo Hub at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, a 37,000 square meter facility that opened at the start of 2018 and was purpose-built to raise the carrier's total cargo capacity to 450,000 tonnes of airfreight per year.

The history of Finnair Cargo's modern form is marked by a concentrated period of investment and certification during the 2010s. In 2015, Finnair Cargo became the first airline in the world to receive IATA CEIV Pharma certification, awarded by the International Air Transport Association to carriers meeting full Good Distribution Practice standards for pharmaceutical logistics. That same year, Finnair introduced the Airbus A350 to its long-haul fleet bringing substantially expanded belly cargo capacity to routes across Asia, North America, and beyond. The COOL Nordic Cargo Hub, which followed in 2018, added dedicated temperature-controlled space for pharmaceutical and perishable freight at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.

• Founded: 1923, as part of Finnair, the Finnish flag carrier and one of the world's oldest continuously operating airlines
• Headquarters: Vantaa, Finland at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport
• Parent company: Finnair Oyj, a publicly traded Finnish flag carrier
• IATA airline code: AY, with an Air Waybill prefix of 105
• Primary hub: COOL Nordic Cargo Hub, Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, covering 37,000 square meters
• Secondary hub: Brussels Airport, operated in cooperation with DHL Aviation
• IATA CEIV Pharma certification: First airline in the world to receive this certification, in 2015
• Annual cargo volume: Approximately 145,000 tonnes of freight and mail per year
• Terminal operator (Helsinki): Swissport, appointed in June 2019
• Solar capacity: 2,990 solar panels on the roof of the COOL Hub terminal, generating approximately 37% of the terminal's annual electricity needs

Finnair Cargo operates through two legal entities, Finnair Cargo Oy, responsible for commercial operations, and Finnair Cargo Terminal Operations Oy, which handles ground operations at Helsinki Airport. The carrier serves the business-to-business segment almost exclusively, with its primary customers being freight forwarders, pharmaceutical manufacturers, seafood exporters, and high-value goods shippers. For Brussels-based operations, Finnair Cargo works with DHL Aviation, using Brussels Airport as a secondary hub that contributes to a combined total of approximately 250 direct wide-body passenger flights per week across Europe, Asia, and the United States.

The geographic positioning of Helsinki is a defining feature of the carrier's commercial identity. The Finnish capital sits along the northern great-circle routes, placing it on the shortest available flight paths between Europe and many major Asian cities. This structural advantage translates directly into faster transit times for freight moving between Europe and Japan, China, South Korea, or India, giving Finnair Cargo an edge that carriers based further south cannot replicate simply through operational improvements. The carrier has built its seafood and pharmaceutical transport specializations in large part around this geographic reality.

Which countries does Finnair Cargo deliver to?

Finnair Cargo's network spans Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America, structured around the Helsinki-Vantaa hub and supplemented by road feeder services for destinations not directly covered by air. During a typical winter season, Finnair operates cargo capacity to approximately 60 destinations across Europe and around 15 cities in Asia, the Middle East, and the United States. This network relies on Finnair's wide-body passenger fleet primarily the Airbus A350 on long-haul routes, which carries cargo in the aircraft's belly hold alongside passenger baggage on every departure.

Within Europe, Finnair Cargo extends its reach beyond direct flight destinations through road feeder services. Road feeder connections from Germany run regularly to Helsinki, linking German freight to Finnair's intercontinental network. Similar services operate from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania several times per week. Scandinavia, Northern Europe, and Great Britain are covered through a combination of direct air connections and road feeder routes via the Helsinki hub. For domestic cargo within Finland Finnair Cargo has partnered with Jetpak, which handles Finnish domestic freight logistics across multiple service tiers, including Jetpak Direct for same-day door-to-door delivery within hours of an incoming shipment's arrival, and Jetpak Next Day for next-business-day delivery.

• Europe: Approximately 60 destinations through direct air connections and road feeder services, including Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland Austria, Italy, Spain, and Poland
• Asia: Japan, China, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and India served on long-haul routes from Helsinki, with northern great-circle routing providing shorter transit times than competing southern routes
• Middle East: Key destinations served via the Helsinki hub on long-haul wide-body routes
• North America: United States destinations served from Helsinki on Finnair's transatlantic network
• Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania connected via road feeder services to Helsinki, running several times per week
• Domestic Finland: Covered through the Jetpak partnership, offering same-day and next-day domestic delivery services

The online booking platform is accessible to customers located in the following countries, Austria, Belgium, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Ireland Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland Thailand the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. This list reflects the primary commercial markets where Finnair Cargo actively manages bookings through its digital channels.

What are the Finnair Cargo services and delivery times?

Finnair Cargo structures its service offer around two primary product tiers that apply across all shipment types. FIRST is the priority service, designed for urgent cargo that requires the earliest available space on an outbound flight. Shipments under the FIRST tier receive the highest booking priority and are confirmed for the next scheduled departure to the destination. BUSINESS is the standard tier, intended for customers with regular or continuous cargo traffic who require dependable transport without the premium associated with urgent prioritization. Both tiers cover all cargo categories, including special cargo requiring temperature control or other handling conditions.

• FIRST: Priority service guaranteeing placement on the next available outbound flight after booking confirmation, available for all cargo types including special cargo
• BUSINESS: Standard service for regular cargo traffic on scheduled Finnair flights or road feeder services, available for all cargo types
• General cargo: Standard freight shipments without special handling conditions, transported on Finnair flights or via road feeder services to selected destinations
• Pharmaceuticals: Temperature-controlled transport in a dedicated 3,000 square meter certified area at the COOL Nordic Cargo Hub, with separate entry and exit points, data logger support, and pilot-adjustable hold temperatures
• Perishables: Fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, seafood, dairy products, frozen products, fresh flowers, and bakery items, handled in a separate 3,000 square meter temperature-controlled area distinct from pharmaceutical storage
• Seafood: Long-standing specialty for fresh fish and seafood transport from Northern Europe to Asia and the United States, using Helsinki's shorter northern routing to reduce transit times compared to competing routes
• Dangerous goods: Handled in compliance with ICAO Technical Instructions and IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, with certain lithium metal battery configurations not accepted on passenger aircraft
• Live animals: Available to most direct Finnair destinations, covering living animals, birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, crustaceans, and amphibians, subject to export and import permits and veterinary documentation
• Valuables: Accepted with tamper-evident packaging, with the shipper responsible for ensuring any breach of the outer wrapping would be immediately apparent upon receipt
• Vulnerable cargo: High-value, theft-sensitive items such as telecommunications equipment and computer hardware, receiving additional protection measures during transit

Delivery times for Finnair Cargo shipments reflect the carrier's scheduled flight network rather than fixed consumer-style windows. FIRST priority cargo travels on the next available outbound flight after booking, making it the fastest option for urgent intercontinental movements. BUSINESS tier cargo follows regular scheduled departures subject to capacity availability on the chosen route. For intercontinental lanes between Europe and Asia or North America, transit times benefit from Helsinki's northern great-circle routing, which cuts flight hours compared to carriers operating via more southerly hubs. Specific transit times by destination are not published in a standardized public format; customers are directed to use the online booking platforms or contact local representatives to obtain estimates for a specific origin and destination pair.

For domestic Finland cargo handled through the Jetpak partnership, delivery timelines are considerably shorter. Jetpak Direct provides door-to-door delivery within hours of an incoming shipment's arrival at a Finnish airport. Jetpak Linehaul covers regular freight movements on a scheduled basis, while Jetpak Next Day guarantees delivery to destinations that cannot be reached on the same calendar day. General cargo and selected temperature-controlled shipments are accepted under this domestic arrangement, covering Finnish territory served by the Finnair Finland network.

What are the Finnair Cargo rates and maximum dimensions accepted?

Finnair Cargo calculates transportation charges using the higher of a shipment's actual gross weight or its volumetric weight, which is the standard approach in the air freight industry. Volumetric weight is calculated by dividing the shipment's total volume in cubic centimeters by 6,000. If the result of this calculation exceeds the actual gross weight, the shipment is billed at the volumetric rate. This chargeable weight approach exists because large but lightweight shipments occupy physical space in an aircraft hold that could otherwise carry denser freight, and the pricing model reflects that physical constraint.

• Pricing model: Higher of actual gross weight or volumetric weight is used as the chargeable weight for all shipments
• Volumetric weight formula: Total volume in cubic centimeters divided by 6,000, yielding the volumetric weight in kilograms
• Maximum dimensions: Vary by aircraft type and ULD configuration; Finnair Cargo publishes fleet and ULD specifications to help shippers assess per-aircraft capacity limits on a given route
• Primary long-haul aircraft: Airbus A350, with significant belly cargo capacity on intercontinental routes to Asia, North America, and the Middle East
• Online booking platforms: Real-time rates and capacity available through Finnair Cargo Online, Cargo One, CargoAI, and Cargo Portal Services, with instant booking confirmation at any time of day

Specific published maximums for individual shipment weight and dimensions are not standardized across all routes, as limits depend on the aircraft operating the flight and the ULD configuration planned for that departure. Finnair Cargo publishes fleet and ULD specifications to help shippers assess whether their cargo fits the available capacity. Customers booking through the online platforms or through freight forwarders can verify capacity constraints for a specific flight at the time of booking. For pharmaceutical or other special cargo categories, rate structures may reflect the additional handling and temperature-control infrastructure involved, and customers with specialized needs are generally directed to work with their freight forwarder or a Finnair Cargo sales representative.

What are the Finnair Cargo delivery options?

Finnair Cargo operates in the business-to-business air freight market and its delivery model reflects this positioning. Shipments are not delivered to private residential addresses through Finnair Cargo's own network. Freight is collected from and delivered to cargo terminals, freight forwarder facilities, and similar professional logistics points. The Helsinki Gateway terminal at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport serves as the primary reception and delivery point in Finland and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing continuous cargo handling including loading, unloading, receiving, and delivery operations throughout the year.

• Terminal pickup and delivery: Standard operation for all B2B air freight shipments, handled through the Helsinki Gateway terminal or partner terminals at other network destinations
• Domestic Finland door-to-door: Available through the Jetpak partnership, offering Jetpak Direct same-day delivery within hours of arrival, Jetpak Linehaul for regular movements, and Jetpak Next Day for next-business-day delivery
• Proprietary online booking: Finnair Cargo Online provides real-time capacity, rate visibility, and instant booking confirmation for registered customers at any hour
• Third-party booking platforms: Cargo One, CargoAI, and Cargo Portal Services all provide access to Finnair Cargo capacity with real-time booking confirmation
• Road feeder services: Available from Germany and the Baltic States to Helsinki, connecting local freight to Finnair's intercontinental wide-body network

For customers in Germany and the Baltic States, road feeder services provide a land-based connection to the Helsinki hub, enabling freight to enter Finnair Cargo's intercontinental network without requiring a direct air service from the origin city. These road feeder services run on regular weekly schedules and are treated as integrated extensions of the air cargo routing, with tracking data linked from the point of collection through to the final destination. Freight forwarders in these regions typically use one of the third-party booking platforms to access Finnair Cargo capacity alongside other carriers from a single interface.

What should I do if my Finnair Cargo parcel is lost or damaged?

If a shipment arrives damaged or is reported missing, the first step is to contact Finnair Cargo's customer service team directly, providing the Air Waybill number, a description of the cargo and its declared value, and all available documentation related to the shipment. The AWB number serves as the primary reference throughout the claims process. Cargo claims in the air freight industry are governed by the Montreal Convention, which sets liability limits and procedural timelines for international air cargo, and Finnair Cargo's claims handling follows this framework. Shippers should be aware that any visible damage or shortage must be noted on the delivery document at the time of collection from the terminal, as failure to record it at that point can complicate subsequent claims.

• Phone (toll-free, Helsinki): +358 800 95033
• Phone (standard rate, Helsinki): +358 9 818 5993
• Service hours: Monday to Friday 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Required documentation: Air Waybill copy, damage or shortage report, commercial invoice, packing list, and photographic evidence of damage where available
• Local contacts: Finnair Cargo maintains local contact points across its active markets, accessible through its commercial offices in each region

Finnair Cargo's general transportation terms establish that the shipper guarantees payment of any costs, fines, penalties, or damages arising from prohibited items, incorrect declarations, or inadequate packaging. Claims for damage attributable to insufficient packaging by the shipper are generally not recoverable under the carrier's standard liability framework. For pharmaceutical shipments specifically, temperature deviation records from data loggers placed inside the packaging can serve as critical supporting evidence in a claims situation, and shippers are advised to review this data as soon as the shipment is received. For cargo of significant commercial value, independent cargo insurance is recommended rather than relying solely on the carrier's standard liability limits, which follow air freight industry conventions and may not cover the full replacement value of the goods.

Does Finnair Cargo handle international shipments and customs formalities?

Finnair Cargo transports cargo across international borders throughout its network spanning Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America, and all cross-border shipments require accurate customs documentation. The shipper bears responsibility for preparing and providing complete documentation for each international shipment. Standard documentation includes a correctly completed Air Waybill, a commercial invoice with accurate goods descriptions and declared values, a detailed packing list, and any destination-specific customs forms required by the importing country's authorities. Duties and taxes at the destination are generally the responsibility of the consignee, though specific arrangements vary by trade lane and contractual agreement between the parties.

For pharmaceutical cargo, documentation requirements extend beyond standard customs paperwork. Import licenses, Good Distribution Practice compliance records, and temperature log data from onboard data loggers must accompany shipments moving through markets with pharmaceutical import controls. Finnair Cargo's CEIV Pharma certification covers both the airline and the Helsinki terminal, providing an end-to-end chain-of-custody framework that supports compliance in regulated pharmaceutical trade lanes. Shippers should verify destination-country import requirements with the relevant pharmaceutical regulatory authority well before the planned transport date, as processing times for import licenses vary considerably by market.

• Standard documentation: Air Waybill, commercial invoice with accurate goods descriptions, packing list, and destination-specific customs forms
• Pharmaceutical documentation: Import licenses, GDP compliance records, and temperature log data for markets with pharmaceutical import controls
• Live animal documentation: CITES permits where required, veterinary health certificates, quarantine documentation, and destination import permits, all obtained prior to transport
• Dangerous goods restrictions: Shipments must comply with ICAO Technical Instructions and IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations; certain lithium metal battery configurations are not accepted on passenger aircraft
• Shipper responsibility: The shipper bears full responsibility for the accuracy of all declared information, including weight, dimensions, goods descriptions, and applicable regulatory classifications

For live animal shipments, CITES export and import permits are required where applicable, along with veterinary health certificates and quarantine documentation for the destination country. Finnair Cargo advises shippers to consult with destination country authorities well in advance, as permit processing times vary widely by destination and species. For perishable and seafood exports from Northern Europe to Asia and the United States, food import regulations in destination countries may require phytosanitary certificates, health certificates, or other food safety documentation specific to the product type, and compliance with these requirements falls to the shipper and their freight forwarder.

Understanding tracking statuses

Finnair Cargo uses an Air Waybill based tracking system. Every shipment is assigned an AWB number beginning with the prefix 105, followed by eight digits, in the format 105-XXXXXXXX. This prefix is Finnair's assigned IATA airline code for Air Waybill numbering purposes. Tracking information can be accessed through Finnair Cargo's own systems and through a range of third-party cargo tracking platforms. The system provides updates on the shipment's current location, flight details including flight number and carrier, estimated departure and arrival times, customs clearance status, and delivery updates as the cargo moves through each stage of its journey.