guides12 April 2026

Speedy Van vs Air Freight: Which Is Right for Your Urgent Shipment?

The Forgotten Middle Ground

When most shippers think "urgent," they jump straight to air freight. But for cargo up to 1,000 kg moving between Ireland, the UK and Turkey, our Speedy Van (dedicated express mini-van) often beats air freight on total cost, total transit, and total hassle. Here's why.

How They Compare

| Factor | Speedy Van | Air Freight | |---|---|---| | Max weight | ~1,000 kg | Limited mainly by cost, not weight | | Typical transit | UK/IE → Turkey in 72 hours | Airport-to-airport: 1–2 days; door-to-door: 3–4 days | | Door-to-door | Yes — single vehicle | No — multiple handoffs | | Cargo types | General, ADR, temperature-controlled, fragile | Restricted — many ADR classes blocked | | Total cost (≤1,000 kg) | Usually lower | Usually higher | | Customs handoffs | One | Multiple | | Tracking | Live with driver | Fragmented |

When Speedy Van Wins

  • Urgent ADR / hazardous that airlines won't carry
  • Production-line parts that need to land directly at the factory
  • Sensitive cargo that suffers from multiple handoffs (medical, art, electronics)
  • Project-critical paperwork or samples going to a specific address
  • Sub-1-tonne loads where the airport handling and trucking adds days

When Air Freight Wins

  • Loose ad-hoc cargo that needs to hop on the first flight tonight (and "first flight" matters more than door-to-door)
  • Very long distances outside the road network (e.g. UK ↔ Far East)
  • Loads above 1,000 kg that exceed Speedy Van capacity but fit a flight

The 72-Hour Window

Our Speedy Van service hits the following transit windows in 2026:

  • Turkey ↔ Balkans: 24 hours
  • Turkey ↔ mid-Europe: 48 hours
  • UK / Ireland ↔ Turkey: 72 hours

These are with a dedicated vehicle and a single driver pair — no consolidation, no waiting for other loads.

What to Send Us

For an accurate Speedy Van quote, send:

  1. Pickup and delivery addresses
  2. Cargo description, weight, dimensions
  3. Whether it's ADR (and UN numbers if so)
  4. Temperature requirement (ambient, +2/+8, frozen)
  5. Target ETA at destination

We'll come back with a fixed rate and a confirmed vehicle. Use our contact form to start.