Marseille, France-based CEVA Logistics has contracted 86 freighters to keep international supply chains running. This way, the company supports producers in delivering spare parts, badly needed materials and supplies to their customers.
Chartering freighter aircraft in case of urgent transport demand is anything but new in the forwarding industry. It has occasionally been done by DB Schenker, Kuehne + Nagel, Hellmann, Bolloré,
or Dachser, as recently reported by CargoForwarder Global (15MAR20).
Now, CEVA is following suit. What is surprising in the CEVA case, is the high number of aircraft contracted by the logistics subsidiary of the CMA CGM Group.
A comprehensible step in view of the global capacity shortage caused by bans of passenger flights decreed by many states to slow down the pandemic’s spread, preventing air freight haulage in the
lower decks of passenger aircraft.
However, CEVA has not revealed the names of the providers of the wet leased aircraft and which freighter models the deal involves. When asked, Director Cathy Howe of their British PR Agency
'Pilot Marketing' representing CEVA, regretted being unable to provide an answer because “they (CEVA) are rather busy at the moment!”
The charter flights could still take months
According to the logistics company’s announcement, their intended or meanwhile accomplished charter chains are set up to keep production in the automotive, aerospace, computer, and hi-tech
industries running and to provide urgent stock replenishment to those which would not otherwise be supplied.
Thanks to the airlift and working in close collaboration with its customers to meet their demands, CEVA has been able to move over 4,700 tons of cargo to date. More than 58 flights have already
been completed, with an additional 28 to come over the next seven weeks, and many others to follow if necessary, the company reports.
Helper in need
Guillaume Col, CEVA Logistics’ Chief Operating Officer, states: “Working extremely closely with our customers, we have been able to deliver a robust charter program to adapt to these
difficult circumstances.” The manager went on to say: “Acting in close collaboration with the rest of the CMA CGM Group, we are striving to offer fast and accessible alternatives to our
clients throughout the world in order to help keep the global economy moving.”
Most of the transpacific flights originated in Shanghai or Hong Kong and were destined for Chicago in the USA. A smaller number of flights were bound for Amsterdam, Bangkok, Brussels, Chennai,
Dallas, Rickenbacker, Rockford, Sao Paulo, Singapore and Tokyo. Eastbound and other charters included East Midlands to Bangkok, Hong Kong and Brussels, Hanoi to Singapore, and Hong Kong to Tokyo,
states CEVA.
Heiner Siegmund
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