Amazon has added two air freight services to Amazon Global Logistics (AGL): Air SMP and Economy Air. Air SMP can move FBA inventory from China into the US in an estimated 7 to 10 days, and it carries no FBA inbound placement service fee. Economy Air runs from Shanghai and Shenzhen to Los Angeles in 11 to 15 days at a lower cost than AGL’s standard air service.
The timing matters for sellers finalizing their last Q4 restocks. Here is what each service offers and how to decide between them.
Air SMP: Amazon Air Shipping with Zero Placement Fees
Air SMP is the AGL service that carries the fee waiver. According to Amazon’s announcement, sellers divide their inventory before it leaves China and fly it to an assigned fulfillment center in each of Amazon’s five US regions. Each region is tied to a single fulfillment center, so sellers know in advance where their cartons will arrive.
Key details from Amazon:
- Estimated transit of 7 to 10 days from pickup at origin
- Daily flights from Hong Kong and Shanghai
- No FBA inbound placement service fee
- No surcharges for electronics, apparel, or products powered by lithium batteries
Air SMP requires a minimum of five matching cartons per product, the same rule Amazon applies to ocean SMP. Amazon lists the fee waiver as a feature of Air SMP specifically, separate from Economy Air.
AGL Economy Air: Lower-Cost Air Freight to Los Angeles
Economy Air is the second new option and the lower-cost of the two. It moves freight from Shenzhen or Shanghai into Los Angeles in an estimated 11 to 15 days. Amazon says it is priced below AGL’s standard air service. AMZ123, a cross-border ecommerce news site, estimated that it costs roughly two to three times as much as ocean freight.
Unlike Air SMP, Economy Air sends every shipment to a single US destination. An industry analysis of the launch noted that the Los Angeles-only route could add ground transit time and cost for sellers whose customers are concentrated on the East Coast.
Amazon’s announcement ties the zero-placement fee to Air SMP and does not mention a waiver for Economy Air. Sellers considering Economy Air should confirm pricing and any fees in the AGL portal before booking.
Air SMP and Economy Air Compared
The main differences come down to speed, destination, and fees. Air SMP arrives faster and spreads inventory across five regions. Economy Air takes longer and lands in Los Angeles.
Air SMP | Economy Air | |
|---|---|---|
Ships from | Shanghai, Hong Kong | Shanghai, Shenzhen |
Ships to | 5 US regions | Los Angeles |
Transit time | 7 to 10 days | 11 to 15 days |
Flights | Daily | Not stated |
Placement fee | $0 | Not stated |
Category surcharges | None | Not stated |
Cost | See AGL portal | Below standard AGL air |
Amazon did not publish rates for either option. A seller education site added that Economy Air is already live, while Air SMP was scheduled to begin at the start of Q4.
When Air Freight Makes Sense
Amazon recommends the new options for three situations where ocean freight is too slow:
- Preparing for peak season
- Recovering from a stockout
- Launching products on a tight schedule
Economy Air still gets inventory to the US weeks ahead of ocean freight. The cross-border news site put typical ocean transit from China to the US at 30 to 45 days, compared with 3 to 7 days for express air.
Sellers can compare these transit times against their Q4 inbound plans. The seller education site also noted that Amazon’s Ocean SMP FAQ recommends that program for shipments above 10 CBM, a size most air loads fall well below.
How to Book Through the AGL Portal
Sellers can book both services through Amazon’s AGL program portal, which lists rates, service terms, and booking steps. First-time users can sign up through the same portal, which guides them through account setup and their first booking.
Amazon’s post does not list eligibility requirements for the new services. The cross-border news site reported that AGL generally requires:
- FBA registration
- An active AGL account with a payment method
- Importer of Record paperwork
Sellers can read Amazon’s full announcement on the Seller Forums.
Need help with your Amazon inbound logistics? Contact us today!