HXZA Leads Successful Antonov-225 and Boeing 747 Charter Operation to fight COVID-19
2020-06-01
At the request of a European Government, through a business support network now incorporated into the Alliance, HXZA was contracted to arrange emergency transport from China to Europe for an extremely large quantity of medical supplies to support the destination country’s fight against COVID-19.
As the appointed full scope logistics manager for international transportation of this important consignment, including both ground transport in China and airfreight by charter, HXZA knew this outsize and time-critical cargo would require a specialized service.
After consulting on technical matters with aircargo experts, HXZA identified and ultimately chartered the world’s largest transport airplane --the one-of-a-kind Antonov-225-- being the most cost effective and time sensitive option to transport masks, protective coveralls, goggles, and face shields weighing more than 80,000 kg from Tianjin, China to Europe.
Due to the evolving rules and regulations set at foreign borders and CAA levels to prevent the spread of COVID-19, cargo charter flights planning and execution was incredibly complicated. In China, the matter was doubly complex resulting from stringent export control policies on medical equipment enacted just 24 hours before the AN-225’s scheduled ETD. But by working together with European commercial partners and local EU state diplomatic missions in Beijing, HXZA’s team managed to clear all cargo successfully.
HXZA handled full scope project management including coordinating all ground transportation, customs clearance, warehousing, packing, and security, together with our partner and Antonov’s cargo team providing valuable in-depth project study, loadability assessment, carrier interface, technical charter agency, and licensing support. This time critical mission was executed flawlessly and rapidly thanks to the round-the clock efforts of all those involved.
It was the AN-225’s first commercial flight following an 18 month off-hire period for refit and modernization. HXZA subsequently served as ground support and cargo management solutions provider for several additional Antonov flights between China and Europe, and also independently chartered a Boeing 747-F for delivery of remaining cargo going to the destination.
Update 2022: The AN-225 was destroyed at the Battle of Antonov Airport at its homebase in Ukraine in 2022.
The Antonov AN-225 Mriya was an 84-meter-long strategic airlift cargo aircraft that was designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Ukrainian SSR within the Soviet Union during the 1980s. It was powered by six turbofan engines and is the heaviest aircraft ever built.
