Overview

Amazon now offers partnered carrier air shipments from the US to the UK for FBA sellers, providing a faster and potentially more economical way to send inventory across the Atlantic. The service integrates directly with Amazon's partnered carrier program, streamlining the international shipping process for sellers expanding their FBA presence to the UK marketplace.

Key Points

• Air shipment option — US-based FBA sellers can now ship inventory to UK fulfillment centers via partnered carrier air freight
• Faster transit times — Air shipments significantly reduce transit time compared to ocean freight (days versus weeks)
• Partnered carrier integration — Service integrated into Amazon's partnered carrier program in Seller Central for simplified booking and tracking
• Competitive pricing — Amazon-negotiated rates may be more economical than arranging air freight independently for smaller shipment volumes

How Partnered Carrier Air Works

• Booking through Seller Central — Create shipment to UK fulfillment center in Seller Central and select partnered carrier air option
• Amazon-negotiated rates — Access bulk shipping rates Amazon has negotiated with air freight carriers
• Integrated tracking — Shipment tracking automatically flows into Seller Central dashboard
• Customs handling — Partnered carriers handle customs documentation and clearance as part of service

When to Use Air vs. Ocean

• Air advantages — Faster transit (3-7 days vs. 4-6 weeks for ocean), better for restocking fast-moving products or launching time-sensitive promotions
• Ocean advantages — Lower per-unit cost for large shipment volumes, better for slow-moving inventory or initial stock builds
• Cost-benefit analysis — Calculate break-even point where air freight speed justifies higher per-unit cost versus ocean freight savings