ACS opens new office in Johannesburg

Air Charter Service is continuing its global expansion with the opening of our South African office in Johannesburg. This new office will offer clients in Africa access to ACS' worldwide network of charter experts who between them arrange over 3000 charters a year. With offices in New York, London, Bilbao, Moscow, Dubai and Hong Kong, clients can take advantage of the groups local knowledge and buying power.

Click here to submit an online enquiry
or,
call 24/7 on +27 11 510 0059 to speak to an account manager

ACS transport urgent medical treatments for cancer patients.

ACS recently chartered two business jets to transport medical treatments to London and Manchester hospitals. Due to time restraints, two aircraft had to be used to transport the packages of radioactive cargo to its destination where it was to be used to treat liver cancer.

The cargo, ready and waiting in Frankfurt at 10am needed to be in London and Manchester by 1pm. Due to the cargo being classified as dangerous goods, the choice of aircraft was limited, but ACS’ knowledge and expertise of the market enabled them to find a solution.

James Cristofoli from the London cargo department worked with the London passenger team, using their knowledge to find suitable aircraft that could get the treatments to the hospitals in the quickest possible time.

This charter required management of simultaneous departures from different airports, two separate operators going to different airports. Both of the flights went smoothly with the cargo being delivered to their respective hospitals on time ensuring that the patients received their treatments. The knowledge and expertise of cargo and passenger account managers at ACS ensures that each and every time the most suitable aircraft is used. ACS cargo staff are extensively trained to work with any cargo including dangerous goods. This ensures no time is wasted and no risks are taken getting your dangerous cargo to its destination on time and in safety.

Contact a cargo sales manager now cargo@aircharter.co.uk

ACS and Spanish relief agency work together to deliver 17 tons of aid into Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe, a country that is already under strain is now faced with an outbreak of cholera. In a country hit by hyper inflation rendering what little food there is unaffordable; five million people are now thought to be in need of food aid. An outbreak of cholera has put further strain on dwindling medical resources, and a failing water supply has left many vulnerable.

Air Charter Service worked alongside a Spanish relief agency to fly aid into Zimbabwe. Richard Thompson cargo charter analyst assisted the Spanish Red Cross in chartering an IL-76 aircraft to take aid, including the following, medical supplies/equipment, all terrain truck, 4x4 vehicle, rations and body bags, from Torrejon Air Force Base to Harare.

In total 17 tons of cargo was delivered to help relieve the suffering of the tens of thousands hit by the cholera epidemic sweeping the country.

ACS work with a number of relief agencies who have come to value the quick thinking and extensive knowledge of ACS account managers to find the quickest most cost effective charter solution.

Contact cargo@aircharter.co.uk for more information

What a year for ACS...

Although 2008 may have been a year that most companies would like to put behind them, Air Charter Service has ended it in a strong position to start 2009. The year saw an impressive 3000 charters sold with a turnover expected to be over USD$200 million, a 50% increase on last year - showing that despite the economic climate, our dedication to providing the best service to our customers has reaped rewards.

Last year also witnessed the opening of two new offices in Hong Kong and Bilbao, further expanding our global coverage and offering an outstanding service to new and existing clients in the Asia Pacific and Spanish markets. ACS has also made further inroads into other markets such as Germany and Argentina with the recruitment of further native language speakers.

It was also a busy year for our exhibitions team as the ACS stand visited Offshore West Africa (OWA) in Abuja, Air Cargo China in Shanghai and the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston. Two years after the idea's initial conception some of you may have also received our comprehensive cargo aircraft guide. The guide details over 50 cargo aircraft and was put together using the expert knowledge of our charter team and we hope you found it useful. Should you be interested in receiving a copy please contact a member of our sales team.

Air Charter Service is now heading into 2009 comfortable, secure, and confident that this year will be a year of sustainable growth and profitability.

A look back on the industry in 2008...

2008 was a mixed year for the air cargo industry. Whilst the problems in the automotive market led to a decline in the previously high demand for the small charters supporting the ‘just in time’ production schedules, there was also an increase in larger oil and gas related charters due to the higher prices of fossil fuel. It was ironic that although the carriers were paying more for fuel, greatly increasing charter prices, many were flying more oil related goods as exploration and production increased worldwide.

Other decreases in the industry included exports from the far east. However, once again this drop in demand was filled by a further increase in the shipment of goods related to worldwide development and reconstruction projects including Iraq and Afganistan. 2008 also saw widespread mobilisation of the cargo industry in response to a number of humanitarian crises. Goma, Zimbabwe, Burma, Haiti and Yemen were all witness to a mass deployment of aid delivered by cargo aircraft from all over the world.

The charter market also saw a change in regards to the types of aircraft used. As noise regulations are becoming increasingly stringent, many airlines have begun to replace many of the older aircraft in their fleets with newer quieter versions. Examples of these changes includes the new Stage IV IL-76 aircraft seeing increased usage and many operators parking their old B747 freighters to concentrate on the usage of the newer B747-400F.

Outsize cargo for stricken ship

A large shipping company was spared an operational headache last month when Air Charter Service assisted a freight forwarder in organising the transportation of an urgent spare part weighing 40,000 KG from Norway to Japan.

The vessel belonging to the firm was damaged in heavy seas off the coast of Japan, resulting in the loss of the main thrusters which power the ship and allow for its manoeuvrability.

As the ship limped back to port, the freight forwarder called Air Charter Service to help with the urgent air transportation of replacement thrusters that were located in Norway.

Lloyd Robinson quickly arranged an Antonov-124 aircraft for the charter to Japan. The AN-124 was ideally suited to the outsize dimensions of the giant piece as it allowed for the careful loading to be conducted through the nose of the aircraft with the help of a crane (see picture).

The piece was delivered on an impressive timescale, helping the engineers to get the ship back to sea in a matter of days.

Urgent charters for gas equipment

Air Charter Service’s New York team were last month requested to arrange the air transportation of technical equipment to Port of Spain (POS), Trinidad, after a strong earthquake (6.1 magnitude) hit the island and damaged a natural gas production plant.

Fortunately there were no reports of serious injuries caused by the quake. There was however damage to infrastructure, and as a major supplier of natural gas to the United States and other countries the operators of damaged production plant urgently required technical equipment and spare parts for repairs.

The team in New York arranged four urgent cargo charters into Port of Spain in the days after the earthquake. Ruan Courtney arranged a DC-10 and a DC-8 aircraft from the UK, followed by the charters of two Falcon 20 aircraft from Texas.

These successful time-critical aircraft charters allowed repairs to be made and output restored in the shortest time possible.

Modernised IL-76 a welcome addition to charter market

Air Charter Service’s Gary Hopkins has been the first at the company to take advantage of the all new Chapter 4 certified IL-76TD-90VD aircraft, with a charter of 40 tonnes of urgent oil equipment from Italy to Hassi Messaoud, Algeria.

It is likely to be first of many charters on this new build cargo aircraft which can freely operate across Europe and the USA as it is designed to meet International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) noise and emissions requirements.

The long running success of the IL-76 is based on its unique capabilities as well as its economic efficiency. Not requiring any additional airport loading equipment, the self-sufficient IL-76 is able to fly charters to remote locations including humanitarian aid flights.

The new model has a an improved MTOW of 195 tonnes, an increased payload of 50 tonnes, and a reduced fuel consumption rate making it more efficient.

Giant aircraft carry bridges for Lebanon reconstruction

Three large Bailey bridges - developed during World War II – have been transported to the region via giant Antonov-124 freighters. The bridges are part of an initial £12.7m aid package arranged by the British Government’s Department For International Development (DFID).

DFID has announced it may send up to 14 bridges to Lebanon to aid in the reconstruction of key routes destroyed by bombing. In total the damage caused to infrastructure during the conflict is estimated to be in the region of £1.25 billion.

The two Antonov-124 aircraft, arranged by London based Air Charter Service, flew from RAF Brize Norton to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. The bridges were successfully unloaded and are currently in the process of being taken on a UN ship to Lebanon from the port of Limassol.

The Antonov-124, designed by the Soviet Union, is regularly used to transport heavy and outsize cargo around the world.

In addition to the bridges, ACS arranged 31 relief aid charters to the region on Antonov-12 and Airbus-310 aircraft during the crisis – and the passenger department also provided MD-82 aircraft to evacuate over 600 foreign nations from Lebanon.

Air Charter Service never tyre of flying

Air Charter Service’s London office have had the pleasure of arranging Antonov-26 and Antonov-12 aircraft to transport Michelin’s Formula One racing tyres to both the Hungarian and Italian Grand Prix events.

To help keep the Hungaoring F1 event firmly on track James Cristofoli, cargo charter analyst at Air Charter Service, arranged two Antonov-26’s to move tyres from France to Budapest.

In a separate charter Air Charter Service provided an Antonov-12 aircraft to fly more tyres from Turkey to Milan for the Monza Grand Prix.

Air Charter Service work extensively in the motor sports industry, arranging both cargo charters for the various teams, and passenger charters on private jets for sponsors and fans.

Relief for civilians in Middle East crisis

Air Charter Service have played an important role in both evacuating foreign nationals and transporting aid cargo to Lebanon as the crisis in the Middle East unfolds. Large scale operations continue in order to help alleviate the suffering of civilians caught up in the conflict.

Air Charter Service’s passenger department arranged four MD-82 charters from Larnaca carrying a total of 646 Scandinavian evacuees back to their homeland. The flights were completed within 24 hours of receiving the request.

In the first three weeks of the crisis Air Charter Service’s cargo department have also been involved in flying relief aid to the region. As the aid effort got underway ACS arranged five AN-12 charters with cargo of food and essential goods into Larnaca (LCA).

With new aid routes now opening up ACS are also working on charters into other airports including Damascus (DAM) - where an ACS chartered DC-8 has delivered a consignment of relief goods from Copenhagen (CPH).

ACS sign two year contract with Save the Children (UK)

Air Charter Service have signed a new two year contract to act as the official air charter provider for Save the Children (UK). ACS will use their expertise in the relief field to help Save the Children in their work reacting to disasters across the globe.

Save the Children is the UK's leading international children's charity, working to create a better world for children. They are active in the UK, as well as around 65 countries world wide.

They are part of the International Save the Children Alliance, the world's leading child rights organisation with members in 29 countries and operational programs in over 100 more.

The account will be managed by Gary Hopkins, who has experience working with several other major aid organisations. Gary has arranged aid flights for humanitarian disasters including the Asian tsunami, the Pakistan earthquake, and most recently the unfolding crisis in Lebanon.