IFLN News 2020
Harpers Freight Moves Vital Medical Supplies as Part of Counter-Pandemic Effort
Staff with PPE outside aircraft
IFLN Network member Harpers Freight has helped another cargo agent with moving vital personal protective equipment (PPE) from Thailand to the US, playing its part in the worldwide effort to stem the impact of the Covid-19 crisis.
The shipper – a manufacturer of medical gloves – needed a large quantity of PPE to be moved from Thailand to the US, and Bangkok-based Harpers Freight benefited from its direct air waybill stock with Dubai-based Emirates Airline to book one of the carrier’s B777-300ER passenger aircraft on a charter from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport to Chicago O’Hare via Dubai International.
The PPE represented more than 150 cubic meters of volume cargo. Approximately 140 cubic meters of space was available in the bellyhold of the B777-300, while the balance of the consignment was carried in small boxes in the main cabin of the aircraft.
cargo inside the aircraft
This initial shipment was flown on 29 May, the specially booked charter nevertheless operating on a regular Emirates service route. Since then, Harpers Freight has arranged two more flights to O’Hare on behalf of the same customer.
Harpers Freight general manager Pannaruth Chatkeereerat believes that there is still demand for the shipment of PPE from Thailand to the US and Europe, and much of this equipment is being moved by air freight on charters to ensure that any large shipment can be moved quickly and as one single consignment.
While large parts of this valuable work are being handled by the global forwarders such as DSV, Agility and Schenker, there remain opportunities for smaller cargo agents to play their part, he says. And Harpers Freight stands ready to arrange inland logistics, airport handling activities and air freight transportation on either scheduled services or on a charter basis, Chatkeereerat adds.
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