Onboard Courier Service for Urgent Shipments
What Is an Onboard Courier?
An Onboard Courier, also known as an OBC, is a professional logistics courier who accompanies an urgent shipment on a passenger flight.
Companies turn to an OBC when standard air freight simply cannot meet the delivery deadline.
OBC Transit Times
- Within Europe: 5–12 hours
- Europe to USA / Mexico: around 22 hours
- Asia to Europe: around 25 hours
- Asia to USA / Mexico: around 30 hours
Transit time depends on flight schedules and courier availability.
How We Arrange an OBC Shipment
What We Need to Check an OBC Option
To prepare an OBC option, we need the main shipment details:
- Shipment ready time
- Origin
- Destination
- Number of pieces
- Weight and dimensions per piece
- Any special handling notes
You do not need to complete a long shipment form. A short email or message is enough for our operations team to start checking courier availability, routing options and flight schedules.
Carry-On and Checked Baggage
Many OBC shipments can travel in the aircraft cabin with the courier when the size and airline rules allow. Larger or heavier shipments may need to be checked in as baggage, depending on the route, aircraft type and airline baggage allowance.
Our operations team works with airline baggage requirements and airport restrictions every day, checking the number of pieces, dimensions and weight before confirming the best available option.
Our couriers handle shipments ranging from document envelopes to heavy multi-piece consignments of up to 700 kg for automotive manufacturers.
Global OBC Network
Nova OBC works with 1,500+ onboard couriers across Europe, the Americas and Asia.
Our courier network is not limited to the largest airport hubs. We also work with couriers near regional airports, which helps when the shipment is not close to a main gateway.
Fast Collection
Speed is our priority. In most cases, your shipment can be on its way as soon as 40 minutes after you give us the go-ahead.
Regional & Global Reach
From major gateways to small regional airfields, we position the courier where they're needed. We go wherever your shipment is, no matter how remote.
Smart Routing
We identify the best-positioned courier and the most logical departure airport, selecting the specific flight option that fits your exact delivery deadline.
One Consolidated OBC Service
One onboard courier service covers it all: AOG and aircraft parts, automotive components, ship spares, semiconductors and electronics, industrial automation, oil and gas equipment, and urgent documents.
We arrange OBC transport worldwide, with regular assignments across Europe, Asia, North America, Africa and the Middle East.
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