Geodis has successfully coordinated the delivery of oversized thermocompressors to Colombia, a project that required the use of an AN-124 freighter.
The project involved transporting 249 pieces of oversized cargo totalling (776 tonnes / 4,455 cu m) to southeastern Colombia. Geodis originally planned to transport the load via the La Orquídea Bridge in Boyacá. However, when the bridge collapsed in August 2023, leaving no other viable road transport options, Geodis had to swiftly develop an alternative solution.
The project required a meticulous planning process between Geodis and Antonov, during which Geodis identified the Antonov AN-124 as the only aircraft capable of transporting the cargo due to its exceptional size and weight capabilities.
“With 13 total flights, including a long international journey and 12 domestic trips, this unprecedented operation faced consistent challenges to overcome,” said Carlos Palacios, manager director of Geodis in Colombia. “Despite the complexities, our team at Geodis and our collaborators—including Antonov, the Colombian Air Force and the individual airports involved—were able to successfully come together to keep essential materials moving across the country at a critical time for our client’s operations.”
The cargo, initially prepared in Cartagena, Colombia, was transported by land to the Barranquilla airport, before being loaded onto the AN-124. Despite the aircraft’s capacity of 100 tonnes, only 65 tonnes could be accepted for landing in Apiay. Therefore, adjustments were made to the flight plans and load, resulting in the cargo being transported over 12 domestic flights. These adjustments included removing crates from the parts, adding additional lashing points inside the aircraft, and removing stairs to accommodate the largest piece of cargo.
“Given the constant changes, urgency of timeline and sensitive nature of the cargo, this project marks one of the biggest accomplishments for our Geodis in Colombia team,” said Palacios.
