Making "mini freighters" play the biggest role
Frankfurt-based trade-only charter specialist NEO has completed a programme of 20 charters using Metro, Saab 340, ATR42 and ATR72 freighters.
These "mini freighters" with capacities between 2.1 and 9.2 t carried urgent automotive components from Portugal and Spain to Birmingham and Liverpool. The palletised loads comprised from one to 25 packages per flight, each item measuring 120 x 80 x 120 and weighing 360 kg. Flights were typically booked at a few hours' notice, with departures and arrivals always required on the same day.
Ismail Duran, time critical sales manager: "This was a challenging period in which ongoing temporary supply issues led to sporadic and unpredictable component needs. Smaller freighters provided the solution. It all went to plan, and the end customer was able to maintain production throughout with minimal disruption and at sensible cost." (ah)