Geodis has launched charter services to secure air cargo capacity between China and Europe as well as on transatlantic routes.
This article was first published by HLPFI’s sister publication, Air Cargo News.
The France-headquartered logistics group said that ocean freight continues to be disrupted and air cargo options severely restricted by passenger carriers cancelling scheduled flights.
As a result of this upheaval, Geodis has launched a series of air charter flights. The first flight departed from Frankfurt on a one-way operation to Shanghai on February 12.
In order to facilitate the resurgence in westbound freight out of China, the forwarder followed up on February 21 with the first round-trip service departing from Liège, again with the destination Shanghai Pudong International.
Effective February 28, weekly round-trip flights were established from Frankfurt, with Shanghai departures each Tuesday.
This schedule will remain in place throughout the month of March, when consideration of a further extension will be made, and is being complemented by flights from Hong Kong to Europe and Guadalajara.
Following the decision by US authorities to close its borders to visitors from Europe and to prepare for the consequent sharp decrease in commercial cargo capacity, the company has established a return air charter programme linking Amsterdam and Chicago. The first flight from Amsterdam was scheduled for March 21.
Geodis also continues to offer its rail solutions from major cities in China. Two options are scheduled from Xi’an and Chongqing to the German destinations of Hamburg and Duisburg. The standard services have an 18-day transit time and from Xi’an to Hamburg an express, 12-day solution is provided. Return routings are also available.
Geodis is not the only forwarder to have launched airfreight charter operations in recent weeks, with Dachser, Bolloré, DSV Panalpina and Ceva all launching services (see links below).
· Dachser the latest forwarder to add freighter flights
· Cargolux, Lufthansa and DSV Panalpina increase China freighter services
· CEVA Logistics operates charters to maintain Asia-US supply chain
