In May 2020, a medical distribution company asked ACS to help fly 40 tonnes of facemasks, test kits and extraction kits from China to Portugal.
Transporting Covid-19 medical supplies to Portuguese hospitals
In May 2020, a medical distribution company asked ACS to help fly 40 tonnes of facemasks, test kits and extraction kits from China to Portugal, where supplies were urgently needed by 30 hospitals, outpatient clinics and care homes in Lisbon during the Covid-19 pandemic.
With limited aircraft availability and flight permits needed to charter from China, our experienced team needed to pull out all the stops to transport the cargo quickly.
Our Solution
Routes: Shanghai/Nanjing > Almaty > Istanbul > Lisbon
Aircraft: Airbus A330-200F
During the pandemic freight aircraft were being booked weeks in advance, so last-minute availability was limited; however our experienced team managed to source an Airbus A330-200F that could transport the cargo at short notice without exceeding the client’s budget. We then applied through diplomatic channels to secure the necessary permits to fly from China.
The charter was part of a series of 10 flights we arranged for the client during the pandemic, maintaining the supply chain of facemasks and test kits to hospitals and supermarkets throughout Portugal and parts of Spain. After experiencing delays with cargo clearance at the congested airport in Shanghai for the first three flights, we re-routed the remaining charters to depart from the quieter Nanjing Lukou International Airport.
The Finer Details
Trusted Experts: The client had initially chartered with a competitor, which ended badly when the flight was delayed by a week. Their operations partner had worked with ACS before and recommended us as the best company for chartering cargo aircraft for ad-hoc transportation.
Available 24/7: We were available at any time to facilitate smooth communication between the shipper, consignee and forwarder.
Personalised Service: The client wanted to motivate its workforce during the pandemic, so we arranged airside passes in Lisbon that allowed them to watch up close as the aircraft was unloaded.
Global Network: Our Chinese and European offices worked together seamlessly, using their unrivalled local knowledge to find right departure airport, source a freight forwarder and arrange road transport in China.
MORE ARTICLES