We operate consolidated and direct air freight services from the United Kingdom to Sao Tome and Principe, with departures from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester and East Midlands. Sao Tome and Principe is served by 2 registered airports and airfields, of which our principal gateways are São Tomé (TMS). Typical airport-to-airport transit is 3–5 days depending on airline allocation and the security screening slot we secure for your cargo.
Air Freight Rates to Sao Tome and Principe
Airport to airport · São Tomé (TMS) · transit 3–5 days
| Cargo under 100 kgChargeable weight, airport to airport | £7 per 100 kg (min charge £198) |
| Cargo 100 kg – 300 kgConsolidated weekly departures | £5.19 per kg |
| Cargo 300 kg – 1,000 kgDirect airline allocation | £4.40 per kg |
| Cargo over 1,000 kg / full ULDContract rate on application | £3.61 per kg |
| Airline handling & securityTerminal, screening and AWB fees | £85 – £140 per shipment |
| Fuel & carrier surchargeReviewed monthly by the airline | £1.06 per kg |
| UK export customs entryAdditional lines £8 each | £45 per entry |
| UK collectionNationwide door collection | from £65 |
Indicative rates only, excluding VAT where applicable. Final pricing depends on dimensions, weight, sailing schedule and destination charges.
Whether you are moving a single carton of samples, a pallet of spares or a full unit load device, our air export desk books directly with the carriers serving São Tomé (TMS). We hold weekly allocation with scheduled combination carriers and dedicated freighter operators, which means your cargo is not left waiting for space during peak season. Every booking is confirmed with the airline reference, cut-off time and the exact chargeable weight, so there are no surprises when the invoice arrives.
Chargeable weight for Sao Tome and Principe shipments is calculated on the IATA volumetric divisor of 6,000 — length x width x height in centimetres divided by 6,000 — and the airline charges on whichever is greater, actual or volumetric. Our team re-measures and re-weighs your consignment at our East Tilbury facility before departure and tells you immediately if the numbers differ from your booking, giving you the chance to repack rather than absorb an unexpected uplift.
We handle the full UK export formality: customs entry, commercial invoice and packing list checks, EORI validation, dangerous goods declarations where required, and the air waybill itself. On arrival in Sao Tome and Principe we can nominate a bonded agent to complete import clearance, settle duties on your behalf and arrange onward road delivery, or simply release the cargo to your own broker at São Tomé (TMS).
For time-critical freight we offer next-flight-out and on-board courier options, and for repeat traffic we can build a standing schedule with fixed weekly cut-offs. Perishables, pharmaceuticals and temperature-sensitive goods are booked on active or passive cold chain solutions with airline temperature monitoring throughout the journey to Sao Tome and Principe.
Packing matters more on an aircraft than it does at sea. Cargo bound for Sao Tome and Principe travels on roller beds, is turned, tipped and stacked in the hold, and must survive pressure and temperature changes at altitude. We supply export-grade cartons, ISPM15-compliant timber cases, edge protection, shrink wrap and corner boards, and we build to the aircraft's usable pallet dimensions so you are not paying for dead space above the contour.
Air freight is quoted airport to airport as standard, but most customers to Sao Tome and Principe take a door-to-door price. That includes collection from any UK postcode, our terminal handling, screening and airline fees, the freight itself, arrival handling at São Tomé (TMS), import clearance and final road delivery. We set it out line by line in writing so you can see exactly where the money goes and drop anything you would rather arrange locally.
Insurance is strongly recommended. The airline's liability under the Montreal Convention is limited to roughly 22 SDR per kilo, which for most commercial cargo is a fraction of its real value. Our all-risk marine and air cargo policy covers your consignment warehouse to warehouse at 1.5% of the declared CIF value, with a minimum premium, and is arranged before the goods leave the UK.
Airports we serve in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe has 2 registered airports and airfields. Our regular gateways are shown below, and we arrange onward road delivery from any of them to inland cities, mine sites and project locations.
Airports served in Sao Tome and Principe
2 registered airports and airfields · airport-to-airport transit 3–5 days
UK departure airports
- London Heathrow (LHR)
- Gatwick (LGW)
- Stansted (STN)
- Manchester (MAN)
- East Midlands (EMA)
consolidated
Sao Tome and Principe arrival gateways
- São Tomé (TMS)Scheduled cargo capacity · bonded warehouse · onward road delivery
- Regional and domestic airfields served by road feeder from São Tomé (TMS)
Shipping air cargo to Sao Tome and Principe step by step
Quote & booking
Rates, sailing or flight options confirmed in writing.
UK collection
Nationwide collection or delivery into our Tilbury depot.
Loading & packing
Lashing, crating, palletising and photographic record.
Customs & export
Export entry, NES clearance and documentation released.
Transit & delivery
Tracking updates until the cargo lands with your consignee.
Types of air cargo we fly to Sao Tome and Principe
If your commodity is not listed, ask — we can almost always find a compliant routing.
- General palletised cargo and export consignments
- Excess baggage, personal effects and student shipments
- Perishables, pharmaceuticals and temperature-controlled cargo
- Dangerous goods (IATA DGR) with certified packing
- Aircraft on ground (AOG) and time-critical spares
- Machinery parts, electronics and high-value cargo
- Live animals and horticultural produce (on request)
- Charter and part-charter for oversized freight
Documentation and customs for Sao Tome and Principe
Every air shipment leaves the UK with a commercial invoice, packing list, export customs entry and an air waybill. Depending on the commodity, Sao Tome and Principe customs may also require a certificate of origin, phytosanitary or health certificate, import permit or a pre-shipment inspection. We check the requirements against the current tariff before the cargo leaves our warehouse so it is not detained on arrival at São Tomé (TMS).
Why ship air freight to Sao Tome and Principe with ShipCars UK
- Direct airline allocation — no waiting for space in peak weeks
- Chargeable weight verified in the UK before departure
- Nationwide collection from any UK postcode
- Dangerous goods, perishables and pharma handled in-house
- Named coordinator from booking through to delivery in Sao Tome and Principe