St. Gallen, Switzerland
Air freight in St. Gallen
Ziem Logistics books air freight to and from St. Gallen via Zurich (ZRH). We arrange pick-up and delivery in the St. Gallen area and prepare the customs entries before the cargo flies. Air freight to and from Switzerland is booked through our carrier network.
Airports, seaports and connections in St. Gallen
- AirportZurich
ZRH - SeaportSea freight via Rotterdam or Basel
Zurich Airport (ZRH) is the main air gateway for St. Gallen and eastern Switzerland, reached via the A1, with long-haul belly capacity on passenger flights. For freighter capacity, shipments can be routed via a European freighter hub such as Frankfurt. Sea freight arrives via Rotterdam and the Swiss Rhine ports in Basel, or via Hamburg, with onward rail or road transport. The proximity to Germany and Austria around Lake Constance also allows cross-border routings.
The A1 links St. Gallen with Zurich and continues to the border with Austria near St. Margrethen. The region around Lake Constance borders Germany and Austria, with road crossings used for freight, and rail links connect St. Gallen with Zurich and the Rhine valley.
Operational logistics facts for St. Gallen
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich Airport (ZRH) | Long-haul belly cargo | Main air gateway for eastern Switzerland |
| Border crossings to Austria and Germany | Cross-border road freight | Short routes to EU customers and suppliers |
| Textiles and machinery cluster | Technical textiles, embroidery and machine parts | NFO for urgent machinery parts |
Industries in St. Gallen and how we support them
Eastern Switzerland around St. Gallen is known for textiles, especially technical textiles and embroidery, machinery and medtech. Bühler, a maker of food processing and industrial machinery, is headquartered in nearby Uzwil, and many mid-sized precision engineering and medtech firms are active in the region. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with air freight through our airline network via ZRH, Next Flight Out for machinery spare parts, sea freight via the Rhine and North Sea ports, and customs clearance by our own customs team in Switzerland, including cross-border shipments with Germany and Austria.
Time-critical air freight in St. Gallen
For time-critical shipments we compare two options: Next Flight Out via Zurich (ZRH) on the first suitable flight, or an On-Board Courier who hand-carries the goods to the St. Gallen area. In both cases the customs entries are prepared in advance.
Customs clearance in Switzerland
In-house customs team
Customs clearance in Switzerland is handled by our own in-house customs team.
Air freight to and from Switzerland is booked through our carrier network.
Importers in Switzerland need a Swiss business identification number (UID) and, for VAT, registration with the Federal Tax Administration where applicable.
Frequently asked questions
Which airport do you use for St. Gallen shipments?
Most air freight from St. Gallen goes via Zurich (ZRH). For heavy pieces requiring a freighter, we route via a European freighter hub such as Frankfurt. We compare options with each booking.
Can you ship machinery spare parts from eastern Switzerland urgently?
Yes. We offer Next Flight Out on the first available flight with export customs prepared in parallel, or an On-Board Courier for smaller critical parts.
Do you collect in St. Gallen, Uzwil and the Rhine valley?
Yes. We arrange pick-up in St. Gallen, Uzwil, Wil and the St. Gallen Rhine valley through trusted road partners and deliver to Zurich Airport.
How do I get a quote for air freight to or from St. Gallen?
Send us the origin, destination, goods description, weight and dimensions. Our operations desk replies with a routing via Zurich (ZRH) and an itemised quote.