About Novahives Air Connect
What is Novahives Air Connect ？
Novahives Air Connect is a high-efficiency U.S. domestic logistics solution that integrates leading all-cargo aircraft capacity with regional carrier strategic partners (Gofo and Speedx) to achieve nationwide delivery within 3–5 days.
It combines the stability of air freight with the cost efficiency of ground transportation.
Who is Air Connect designed for?
Large e-commerce platforms – Require a fast, economical U.S. domestic 5-day delivery solution.
Large 3PL providers – Seek to offer their sellers a lower-cost alternative to USPS or UPS 5-day services.
Regional delivery companies – Provide premium options for customers who demand faster service and are willing to pay for economical air freight.
DTC brands – Under a “single-warehouse nationwide” model, use Novahives Air Connect to ship through regional carriers to distant zones, reducing total logistics cost (30%+ cheaper than USPS) and improving customer experience with 2–3 days faster delivery (3–5 calendar days total).
How is Air Connect different from traditional ground transportation?
Novahives Air Connect operates under an Amazon Air BSA (Blocked Space Agreement) to ensure stable flight capacity and on-time performance even during peak seasons.
Compared with ground transportation, Air Connect offers:
- 3–5 days transit time (vs. 5–8 days by ground)
- Nationwide coverage
- Higher reliability and predictability
Product feature
What is the transportation process of Air Connect?
Pickup / Delivery to hub: Customers can either schedule pickup with Novahives or deliver freight to the designated consolidation center.
Airline transfer: Cargo is shipped between cities using Amazon Air all-cargo aircraft.
Airport delivery & regional sorting center handover: Flight schedules are optimized according to each regional carrier’s cutoff time.
Regional last-mile delivery: Packages are handed over to Gofo or Speedx for final delivery.
End-to-end tracking: Novahives’ Transportation Management System (TMS) integrates Amazon Air and regional carrier tracking data (currently under development).
Transit Time (Pickup to Delivery)
Overall transit time: 3–5 business days (from pickup to final delivery).
Typical example:
- T+0 (Afternoon): Pickup and warehouse check-in
- T+1 (Morning): Flight departure
- T+1 (Evening): Arrival at destination airport
- T+2 (Morning): Arrival at regional sorting center
- T+3–T+5: Last-mile delivery completed
Flight Commitment & Punctuality
Must-Go Flights: All flights operate under a guaranteed BSA (Blocked Space Agreement) with Amazon Air. Once scheduled, flights are confirmed to fly.
Daily flight frequency: Fixed daily operations ensure consistency.
Weather & Force Majeure: In case of cancellations, Novahives will coordinate replacement or next-day direct flights at no extra cost.
On-time performance: Over 98% of flights depart within one hour of schedule year-round.
How can shipments be tracked?
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Tracking is available via:
- Amazon Air system (air segment)
- Gofo / Speedx system (regional delivery segment)
- Novahives TMS platform (integrated end-to-end tracking, under development)
Which airports and hubs are currently supported?
Currently, ONT (Ontario, CA) and EWR (Newark, NJ) serve as the main gateways, covering East–West coast transfers.
Future expansion will include major regional sorting centers in ORD (Chicago), MIA (Miami), SEA (Seattle), SFO (San Francisco), and ATL (Atlanta).
What types of cargo are accepted?
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- Palletized cargo only, with maximum net stacking height of 6 feet (6FT).
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Cargo must be declared by type:
- General cargo
- Dangerous goods accepted only within full-cargo aircraft compliance limits (please consult Novahives Safety Team).
- New flight routes require a minimum of 1,000 kg per day.
- For existing routes, please contact your account manager for space availability.
Packaging and Safety requirement
Shipment & Palletization Guidelines
Current model: Direct-to-airport mode
- Shipments to the same destination airport + same consignee must be palletized separately.
- Each pallet must have a unique pallet label.
- Shippers must create shipment waybills and pallet labels based on shipper, consignee, flight date, and pallet count.
- Multiple consignees on the same flight can be consolidated into one shipment.
- Shipments from the same origin airport with adjacent flight times can be consolidated according to the earliest departure schedule.
Future model: Consolidation center (in development)
- Will support multi-customer pallet consolidation for smaller shippers.
Packaging & Loading Requirements
Option 1 – Standard Carton Stacking
- Use 60×50×40 cm cartons; stack 4 cartons per layer × 4 layers = 16 cartons total.
- Secure with stretch wrap and straps.
Option 2 – 6FT Gaylord Pallet
- Use covered 6FT Gaylord boxes (48×40×72 inches) with pallet base and straps.
✅ Each pallet must display a Shipment ID label and Destination label on the front side.
Safety & Compliance
All shipments comply with:
- Amazon Air IAC (Indirect Air Carrier) requirements
- TSA Known Shipper Program
- FAA cargo transport regulations
How to work with us
How to get started？
Sign the NDA/NCA, General Service Agreement, and Work Order by route.
Register under the Known Shipper Program (if applicable).
Attend Novahives booking and shipping training to comply with TSA safety regulations.
Prepare cargo as scheduled — Novahives will arrange pickup.
How are rates is determined?
Rates depend on:
- Origin address
- Destination sorting center
- Flight frequency
- Number of pallets (6FT Gaylord or standard 48×40 pallet)
- Weight per pallet
- Seasonality (peak/off-peak)
Please submit your request to the Customer Service Team, and the Novahives Solution Team will provide a detailed quotation.
Contract customers can lock rates for the duration of the agreement.
Forecast & Billing Mechanism
Customers provide historical shipment data (past 1–2 weeks) at least 3 days before shipment start.
Novahives allocates capacity based on forecasts.
Actual billing is based on pallets shipped.
Deviations >20% may cause split deliveries or adjusted schedules.
Billing & Payment Terms
Invoices include door-to-door transport fees (from shipper warehouse to sorting center).
Payment terms:
- Contract signing → Prepayment within 3 days
- Before first shipment → One-month prepayment
- Monthly invoices due by the 3rd of each month, payable within 3 business days after confirmation.
Insurance & Liability
Freight rates exclude cargo insurance.
Customers must purchase cargo insurance independently.
The carrier only maintains insurance for aircraft damage caused by cargo.
Novahives assumes no liability for losses caused by natural events, accidents, or third-party actions if the shipper does not carry insurance.