An Antonov 124, one of the largest commercial aircraft in the world, was recently chartered by the air cargo company. Europe Air and Sea To transport time critical goods from the UK to the UAE. The AN-124 is capable of carrying up to 120 tons at take-off.
The European Air and Sea division, which includes specialist teams in the UAE (established in Dubai in 2022) and the UK, managed the shipment from point of receipt to point of delivery. One of the leading manufacturers of hydraulic components in the United Kingdom. The Antonov landed at 1.30am local time on 18 April, bringing the complex project and flight to a successful conclusion, albeit in the face of the largest storms recorded in the UAE since records began.
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Due to the sheer size of the cargo, Europe had to not only charter this specific aircraft, but also organize and manage the necessary permits for local transportation. The shipment had to undergo complex customs clearance processes to be exported to the end user in the UAE, and time was extremely critical. Having previously experienced delays of up to three weeks due to these complexities, the client sought out Air Europa & Sea through its customs infrastructure in Dubai and the UK to successfully clear the goods within hours of landing, contributing to seamless movement between the customer and the end – user.
Kevin Berry, Air Cargo Operations Manager at Europa Aviation & Sea UK, comments that he personally oversaw the project at East Midlands Airport. “This was a challenging project given its scale and timing, but the weather added another layer of complexity. Despite this, we were thrilled to be able to deliver important goods this time. This is the perfect example of how we can ensure smooth movement of goods, with our experience and infrastructure, no matter what.” About volume or time frames.
Nathan Lane, Managing Director of Europe and RC Dubai, added: “Projects such as this require exceptional planning, knowledge, experience and commitment from experts in both the UK and UAE. The fact that Europe has its own teams in both locations means that despite all the complexities, we were able to successfully manage the shipment from point of receipt to point of delivery.
Chris Lane, EMA’s Commercial Director, said: “We are delighted to once again welcome the Antonov aircraft to East Midlands Airport and facilitate it on its way to Dubai.
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“Our unparalleled cargo operation is fully equipped to receive more charter flights like this and we know that cargo carriers are delighted with the level of service, expertise and facilities we provide. Our strategic central location and fewer restrictions than many other airports make us the best choice for businesses seeking to We trade smoothly all over the world, and we will be very happy to work with Europe again in the future.
The logistics sector in the UAE has outperformed many other sectors and is seen as an important part of the country’s economic diversification. As the shipping and logistics market continues to grow in line with economic growth and expansion in the region, Business Research Insights expects this to lead to a continued increase in demand for enterprise shipping expertise in the coming years.
