Air freight from Bulgaria to Russia
Transit via nearby Istanbul — a short first leg. 2–5 days door to door, with no weight limit and customs clearance at the arrival airport. Priced by volumetric weight; minimum service fee €200.
How your cargo flies
Bulgaria is the EU country closest to Istanbul and has the shortest leg to the hub: cargo from Sofia reaches the transfer the same day or the next. Typical shipments are cosmetics, including rose-oil products, generics and spare parts. For urgent consignments it is one of the fastest European origins.
| Departure airports | Sofia (SOF), Plovdiv (PDV), Varna (VAR) |
| Route | Transit via nearby Istanbul — a short first leg |
| Typical cargo | cosmetics and essential oils, pharmaceuticals (generics), spare parts, samples |
| Arrival airports | Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo (Moscow), Pulkovo (St Petersburg); then any city in Russia |
How the price is calculated
Air freight is charged by volumetric weight: length × width × height (cm) ÷ 6,000, i.e. 1 m³ = 167 kg; the higher of volumetric and actual weight applies. Collection, export formalities, terminal handling, customs clearance in Russia and delivery are added. Minimum service fee €200.
Restrictions to check in advance
Essential oils and alcohol-based cosmetics are Class 3 dangerous goods and need a shipper’s declaration; pharmaceuticals only if registered in Russia.
Frequently asked questions
How long does air freight from Bulgaria to Russia take?
2–5 days door to door: collection from your premises, export clearance at the departure airport, transit via nearby Istanbul — a short first leg, customs release at the arrival airport and delivery to your buyer. The Russian declaration is filed before the aircraft lands, so release usually takes hours rather than days.
How much does air freight from Bulgaria to Russia cost?
We do not publish per-kilogram rates: the airfreight is charged on volumetric weight (1 m³ = 167 kg) or actual weight, whichever is higher, plus collection, export documents, terminal handling and customs clearance in Russia. There is no weight limit, and the minimum service fee is €200. Send us the dimensions and weight and we quote within 2 hours.
Who lodges the EX1 for air freight from Bulgaria?
We do, on your behalf: we lodge the EX1 and send you the MRN. Once the goods leave the EU, the exit is confirmed electronically — that is your evidence for zero-rating the VAT on the export sale. Because the leg to Istanbul is short, the goods usually reach the transfer the same day or the next after the EX1 is lodged.
What restrictions apply to air freight from Bulgaria?
Essential oils and alcohol-based cosmetics are Class 3 dangerous goods and need a shipper’s declaration; pharmaceuticals only if registered in Russia. General IATA rules also apply: lithium batteries only with UN38.3 certification, while aerosols, flammable liquids and strong magnets go by surface routes. Goods subject to EU, UK, Swiss or US sanctions and dual-use items are not carried by any mode.