GEODIS completes Air Freight of oversized cargo with Antonov AN-124

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

GEODIS, a premier international logistics company, recently achieved a milestone by successfully completing an intricate air freight operation that involved transporting large-scale thermocompressors using the Antonov AN-124, recognized as the largest cargo plane globally. This operation saw the aircraft departing from Lisbon and conducting 13 flights across a span of seven days to deliver critical oversized cargo to Colombia for a major client. This time-sensitive logistics effort involved the transportation of 249 pieces of heavy and oversized cargo, weighing a total of 776 tons and measuring 4,455 cubic meters, to Colombia’s southeastern region. Initially, GEODIS planned to move the cargo from Cartagena to its final destination via the La Orquídea Bridge in Boyacá, which was the sole road transport route capable of handling such large and heavy freight. However, the collapse of the bridge in August 2023 forced GEODIS to quickly devise and implement an alternate air transport strategy to ensure the project’s timely completion.

The extensive project required detailed planning and negotiations between GEODIS and Antonov, selecting the Antonov AN-124 as the sole aircraft capable of transporting the cargo due to its size and weight. The selection process was complicated by the aircraft’s limited availability due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its prioritization for humanitarian aid. After securing the Antonov AN-124, GEODIS identified specific airports in Colombia, Barranquilla (AOL) and Apiay (AOD), that could accommodate the aircraft’s unique operational requirements. In Apiay, a military base, GEODIS also conducted a study to ensure the aircraft’s operations would not interfere with military activities, addressing factors such as landing and takeoff maneuvers, fuel supply, and alternative facility availability during the aircraft’s ground time.

The logistics of the operation involved preparing the cargo in Cartagena, transporting it by land to Barranquilla, and then loading it onto the Antonov AN-124 for air transport. Despite the Antonov AN-124’s 100-ton capacity, the maximum payload for landing at Apiay was limited to 65 tons, necessitating several adjustments by GEODIS and Antonov for the cargo’s transportation over 12 domestic flights. These adjustments included cargo re-packaging and internal modifications to the aircraft to accommodate the oversized items.

“With 13 total flights, including a long international journey and 12 domestic trips, this unprecedented operation faced consistent challenges to overcome,” said Carlos Palacios, Manager Director of GEODIS in Colombia. “Despite the complexities, our team at GEODIS and our collaborators—including Antonov, the Colombian Air Force and the individual airports involved—were able to successfully come together to keep essential materials moving across the country at a critical time for our client’s operations.”

GEODIS, globally recognized for its comprehensive supply chain expertise, offers services in Global Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and European Road Network. With a presence in nearly 170 countries and a workforce of over 49,400, GEODIS stands as the fifth-ranked logistics provider worldwide, generating €13.7 billion in revenue in 2022. GEODIS operates under the ownership of the SNCF group.

“Given the constant changes, urgency of timeline and sensitive nature of the cargo, this project marks one of the biggest accomplishments for our GEODIS in Colombia team,” said Palacios. “Together with our collaborators, we proved that with flexibility and world-class talent we can overcome extreme challenges and execute exceptional air operations on behalf of our clients.”

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