Aviation logistics firm Sterling, part of Kuehne+Nagel, has partnered with SATS Ltd (SATS) to expedite first- and last-mile airside services for time-critical Aircraft-on-Ground (AOG) shipments.

The collaboration between the two companies will focus on optimising handling processes to support the urgent needs of the aviation industry and expediting the delivery of aircraft components to resolve AOG situations quickly.

Singapore and London Heathrow airports have been identified as locations for a trial phase, with the services anticipated to be rolled out to other airports within Sterling’s network in the coming months.

The partnership will combine Sterling’s critical logistics expertise with the enhanced visibility provided by SATS for express shipments booked with airlines.

The services provided include specialised handling at the point of origin and destination to manage AOG shipments and via key time stamps for updates on the shipment’s status on the ground.

These streamlined services are the result of the strategic collaboration between SATS and Kuehne+Nagel, which was cemented through the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in October 2023 to drive value chain improvements and sustainability efforts within the air logistics industry.

The two parties have successfully conducted several other Proofs of Concept to optimise ground handling for e-commerce shipments and air charter hub and spoke operations, as well as this airside service to improve shipment visibility and cargo processing speeds for time-critical shipments.

Rob Broderick, executive vice president for Sterling, said: “Sterling is committed to helping our customers minimise time on the ground in an AOG situation and maintaining the integrity of their commercial aircraft fleets.

“This joint service with SATS will expedite first- and last-mile support to shorten delivery windows and get aircraft back in service faster.”

Henry Low, chief operating officer for SATS, said: “This is a great example of the innovative solutions that we can develop with our partners and can scale across our global network.

“We are working together with Sterling & Kuehne+Nagel to continue to create new services that will benefit our customers and enhance their operational efficiency.”

READ MORE NEWS: Kuehne+Nagel and SATS collaborate to improve cargo processing