The sealed inner container
Most carriers and most receiving countries require a hermetically sealed inner container, commonly lined with zinc, inside the coffin. The seal is certified, and the certificate travels with the shipment.
This is also the requirement that makes the container heavy, which matters because air cargo is charged on weight and volume.
The outer case
Many airlines additionally require the coffin to be enclosed in an outer wooden case or an approved air tray, so that it can be handled as a normal cargo unit and is not identifiable in transit.
Requirements here vary noticeably between carriers, and a container accepted on one airline is not automatically accepted on another. This is one reason a routing change can require rework.
Weight, routing and what drives the cost
The combination of a zinc-lined coffin and an outer case produces a heavy unit. Cargo capacity for that unit has to exist on the specific aircraft, which is why direct flights are sometimes unavailable and a longer routing is proposed.
Distance, the number of connections, the weight of the finished unit and handling at each airport are the main components of the transport cost. There is no standard tariff, because no two routes present the same combination.
Ashes are handled differently
Where cremation has taken place, the rules change completely. Ashes are usually transported in a sealed urn with the crematorium certificate and the death certificate, and in many cases can travel with an accompanying passenger rather than as cargo.
Airline policies on carrying ashes in the cabin differ, and some destinations still require an import permit, so the route is confirmed in advance.
This is general information, not advice on a specific case. Requirements differ between countries, between airlines and sometimes between cases. We are a private coordination company, not a government body, embassy or consulate.
Common questions on this subject
Can a family supply its own coffin?
Only if it meets the sealing and construction requirements of the carrier and both countries. In practice the container is usually sourced in the country of departure, because it has to be certified there.
Why is a direct flight not always possible?
The shipment needs cargo capacity and acceptance on the specific aircraft, and not every flight can take it. When the direct service cannot, a routing with a connection is used instead.
Does the family travel on the same flight?
It is possible and quite common, but not required. The deceased travels as cargo and is received by the funeral director at the destination airport, whether or not a relative is on board.