Worldwide air traffic is affected by the measures to contain COVID-19 in an unprecedented way and is a major challenge for everyone involved. The right unit load devices (ULDs) are required for the suitcases of returnees, who the countries fly home in large-scale return campaigns, as well as for freight deliveries, including respiratory masks and other important goods. Jettainer, as one of the world’s leading companies in ULD management, secures the supply with Unit Load Devices and provides the necessary units for short-term needs.
The corona pandemic shows more clearly than usual how important airfreight traffic is for the supply of population and industry. However, usually defined flight schedules are currently often determined by short-term planning and ad hoc changes. So far, more than 500 cargo- and special flights have been carried out, amongst others transportation of stranded EU citizens (including Switzerland), as well as of urgently needed cargo. As a result, there is an increased over- or understock of loading devices at different locations. At some destinations, ULDs are required where none of the Jettainer customers have their own stocks. Jettainer coordinates closely with the responsible task forces that were introduced to fulfill the need for short-term ULD handling. In addition to the containers, Jettainer also provides pallet stacks and nets for cargo securing on passenger seats so that customer airlines can also load parcel shipments to exceptional destinations such as Lima, Auckland or Christchurch.
“Especially in emergency and crisis situations airfreight is of central importance. With our international network we can provide the required unit loading devices quickly and flexibly. I would like to thank the entire team that is doing its utmost for days to meet the increasing demand for short-term solutions,” says Thomas Sonntag, Managing Director of Jettainer GmbH.
Jettainer’s global leasing offer for ad hoc needs, JettLease, also assists here. Jettainer provides existing customers, but mostly non-ULD customers with units at stations that are outside of their regular flight schedule. In China in particular, predominantly in Shanghai, the demand has recently increased significantly. The growing number of charter flights with medical equipment or humanitarian freight mainly explains the unpredictable need of ULDs. In addition to suitcase and freight containers, pallets, car racks and horse stalls, nets for securing goods in freight and passenger machines complete the offer of JettLease.