Abstract: This study analyses the processing time of air customs clearance, focusing on the Bill of Entry. Efficient customs clearance is critical for international trade, influencing operational costs and delivery schedules. The research identifies time delays and bottlenecks in the clearance process by evaluating stages such as document submission, assessment, examination, and release. It also examines the impact of digitalization and customs automation systems like ICEGATE and SWIFT in reducing processing times. Key factors contributing to delays include procedural inefficiencies, documentation errors, and manual interventions. The study offers recommendations for streamlining documentation, improving system integration, and building stakeholder capacity to enhance air cargo clearance efficiency and support smoother international trade.

Keywords: Air Customs Clearance, Processing Time, Bill of Entry, ICEGATE, SWIFT, Cargo delay.

| DOI: 10.17148/IARJSET.2025.125279