Frankfurt-based trade-only charter specialist NEO has completed a programme of air cargo charters from Spain and Portugal to the UK, carrying urgent automotive components.

All 20 shipments were required to maintain car production lines, with flights being typically booked at a few hours’ notice and with departures and arrivals always required on the same day.

The flights operated from Spain and Portugal to Birmingham and Liverpool UK using Metro, Saab 340, ATR42 and ATR72 freighter aircraft with capacities ranging from 2.1 to 9.2 tonnes.

The palletised loads comprised from 1 to 25 packages per flight, with each item measuring 120cm x 80cm x 120cm, and weighing 360 kilos.

Says Ismail Duran, time critical sales manager at NEO, said: “This was a challenging period in which ongoing temporary supply issues led to sporadic and unpredictable component needs.

“The only common denominator was the extreme urgency of the shipments, to avoid production line shutdowns.

“Sourcing suitable, available nearby aircraft and operating them at such short notice, while also minimising the costs to the client, created a few challenges – but nothing we couldn’t solve.

“Smaller freighters provided the solution. It all went to plan, and the end customer was able to maintain production throughout with minimal disruption and at sensible cost.”