Antonov Airlines has transported 80 tonnes of automotive parts from Indonesia and Vietnam to Ohio, USA, to support increasing demand from vehicle manufacturers.
Antonov deployed one of its AN-124-100 to pick up 40 tonnes of parts in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and a further 40 tonnes in Hanoi, Vietnam.
“We have seen an increase in demand for automotive cargo, and a double pick-up is not usual in the day-to-day operations of the AN-124-100,” said Iryna Kyianytsia, commercial executive at Antonov Airlines.
“There were additional challenges ensuring compliance with Covid-19 restrictions in different nations, but thanks to well-organised work and communication with The Flight Lab Aviation Consulting, which chartered the flights, the cargo was safely and successfully transported in full and on time.”
It took four days to complete the route with technical stops required in Japan and Alaska to accommodate crew rests and aircraft refuelling before reaching Ohio.
Aircraft crew received rapid Covid-19 tests during each rest window prior to receiving clearance to travel to the next technical stop airport.
“These flights were not your run-of-the-mill charters,” said Adam Green, founder and ceo of The Flight Lab Aviation Consulting. “Due to the nature of the cargo and the double pick-up in two different countries, the planning had to be precise and executed perfectly.
“All the cargo was just-in-time, to support a large automotive manufacturer; with the help of the consignee V. Alexander in the USA, each flight went off without a hitch.”
