Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) is Europe's third-largest air cargo hub, handling 1.6 million tonnes of cargo annually in 2025. For Chinese exporters shipping to the EU by air, Schiphol offers a compelling combination of airline connectivity, efficient customs, and superior European distribution. With the Schiphol SmartGate Cargo community system providing real-time cargo visibility, and Dutch Customs Article 23 VAT deferment eliminating cash flow impact, AMS is the preferred air freight gateway for many of our clients distributing to multiple EU markets. For multimodal options connecting air freight at AMS with bonded transit to final EU destinations, see our multimodal guide.
Amsterdam schiphol air cargo advantages
| Advantage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Airline connectivity | Direct freighter and belly cargo services from PVG, PEK, CAN, SZX, HKG, CTU, 10+ daily flights from China |
| Customs efficiency | Dutch Customs processes air cargo imports in under 2 hours (standard). English-speaking officials. Article 23 VAT deferment available. |
| DG handling | AMS has dedicated DG handling zones in all major cargo terminals. Schiphol Cargo handles the full range of IATA DGR-allowed classes. |
| SmartGate Cargo | AMS community cargo system connects airlines, handlers, forwarders, customs, and truckers, real-time status tracking through the entire chain |
| EU distribution | 2 hours to Brussels, 2.5 hours to Dusseldorf, 3.5 hours to Paris CDG by truck. Daily air-truck connections to all major EU cities. |
| Bonded transit | T1 transit documents available for duty-free movement from AMS to any EU destination where import clearance occurs. |
Airline coverage China to AMS
| Airline | Chinese Departures | Frequency | Cargo Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLM/Martinair Cargo | PVG, PEK, CTU, HGH (Hangzhou) | Daily freighter and belly | General cargo, pharma, perishables |
| China Southern Cargo | CAN, PVG, CKG (Chongqing) | 7-9x/week | General cargo, e-commerce |
| China Cargo Airlines | PVG, TSN | 5-7x/week | General cargo, DG Class 9 |
| Air China Cargo | PEK, PVG, CTU | 4-6x/week | General cargo |
| Cargolux | PVG, HKG, XMN (Xiamen) | 5-7x/week | All types including DG |
| Qatar Airways Cargo | PVG, CAN, HKG (via DOH) | Daily | Pharma, perishables, general |
Airport options: AMS and MST
While Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) dominates, Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST) is a growing alternative for express and e-commerce cargo:
- Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS): 1.6M tonnes/year. Full-service cargo handling including DG, pharma (IATA CEIV certified), live animals, high-value secure storage. Best for general cargo and EU-wide distribution.
- Maastricht Aachen (MST): ~150K tonnes/year. Dedicated cargo airport focused on express, e-commerce, and integrator traffic. Lower handling costs than AMS. Best for high-volume e-commerce shipments where AMS slot scarcity is a concern. Also serves the Aachen/Liege border region including Eastern Belgium and Western Germany.
EU-Wide distribution from schiphol
From AMS, truck connections serve all major European destinations:
- Benelux: Brussels (2h), Antwerp (90 min), Luxembourg (3.5h)
- Germany: Dusseldorf (2.5h), Frankfurt (4h), Hamburg (4.5h), Munich (8h overnight)
- France: Paris (3.5h), Lille (2.5h), Lyon (9h overnight)
- UK: Via Channel Tunnel or cross-Channel ferry, 8-12h to London
For the fastest EU delivery, customs clearance at AMS with Dutch import entry then free circulation movement to the destination country is the standard procedure. For destinations where local customs is preferred, T1 transit from AMS enables duty-suspension movement to the destination EU country.
DG air freight at schiphol
Schiphol Cargo handles the full range of IATA DGR-accepted DG classes. Key specifics for AMS:
- DG acceptance: All major ground handlers at AMS (dnata, Menzies, Swissport) hold DG handling certification
- Lithium batteries: AMS has designated lithium battery storage areas. UN38.3 test summary must accompany all lithium battery shipments.
- Dutch DG regulations: The Netherlands follows IATA DGR with additional requirements for radioactive materials (Class 7) requiring special permits from the Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS)
- Notification: DG shipments must be notified 72 hours before flight arrival at AMS
Cost Range
- General cargo (100-500 kg): $4.20 - $6.20/kg
- General cargo (500-1,000 kg): $3.80 - $5.50/kg
- General cargo (1,000+ kg): $3.40 - $4.80/kg
- Consolidated/consol: $2.80 - $4.00/kg
AMS rates are generally competitive with FRA and CDG on this lane. The high flight density (10+ daily China flights) keeps pricing competitive.
Related: Air Freight Services → | Sea Freight China-Netherlands → | Multimodal China-Europe →
Frequently Asked Questions
Why import air freight via Amsterdam instead of Frankfurt?
Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) offers distinct advantages: (1) Dutch customs is the most English-friendly in the EU with Article 23 VAT deferment eliminating cash flow impact; (2) Schiphol has superior road connections to Benelux, Northern France, and Western Germany, Brussels in 2 hours, Dusseldorf in 2.5 hours; (3) The Schiphol SmartGate Cargo community system provides real-time cargo tracking across all stakeholders; (4) Schiphol handles 1.6 million tonnes annually and is Europe's #3 cargo hub. For EU-wide distribution, AMS is often more efficient than FRA, especially for cargo destined for Benelux and Western Germany.
Can I transit air cargo from Schiphol to other EU countries tax-free?
Yes. Goods arriving at Schiphol can be placed under T1 transit procedure (Community transit) and moved to another EU member state where customs clearance and VAT payment occur. Alternatively, goods can be entered into a bonded warehouse at Schiphol and released for free circulation only when needed. For non-EU final destinations (Switzerland, Norway), goods can transit through Schiphol under customs control without ever entering EU free circulation. This makes AMS an excellent hub for global distribution.
How fast is EU-wide delivery from Schiphol?
Once cargo clears Dutch customs (typically 2 hours), truck delivery times from AMS: Brussels (2h), Antwerp (1.5h), Dusseldorf (2.5h), Frankfurt (4h), Paris (3.5h), Hamburg (4.5h). This means same-day delivery is achievable for Benelux and Western Germany. Overnight delivery reaches most of Germany, Northern France, and Switzerland. Southern and Eastern European destinations take 2-3 days by truck. For time-critical deliveries, dedicated express trucking (non-stop driver teams) can reach any EU destination within 24-48 hours from AMS.
What is the difference between AMS and MST for air cargo?
Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) is a full-service major hub airport handling 1.6M tonnes/year with comprehensive cargo facilities, all major airlines, and DG handling capability, best for general cargo, high-value goods, pharma, and EU-wide distribution. Maastricht Aachen (MST) is a smaller dedicated cargo airport (~150K tonnes/year) focused on express, e-commerce, and integrator traffic (DHL, FedEx). MST offers lower handling costs and less congestion, better for high-volume, time-definite e-commerce where AMS slot scarcity might be an issue. MST also serves the cross-border Aachen-Liege industrial region.