Geodis introduces new charter & rail services for urgent shipments

March 23, 2020: The global supply chain operator, Geodis has introduced additional air charter services to assist customers with urgent shipments during the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, rail alternatives are being offered to/from China.

“Whilst ocean freight continues to be disrupted and air cargo options severely restricted by established carriers cancelling scheduled flights, Geodis is providing alternative means to move customers’ cargoes between China and Europe as well as on transatlantic routes,” says the release.

Onno Boots, CEO, Geodis, Asia Pacific region, shared “We are positively building on our capabilities as a key supply chain partner to our customers by responding to their needs for an undisrupted supply chain through strengthening our capabilities in air freight, with the inclusion of these new services. We hope our prompt response with these quick solutions will continue to assure our global customers that Geodis is committed to ensuring we deliver the quality of service they have come to rely upon from us”.

The first of the air charter services departed from Frankfurt on a one-way to Shanghai on the February 12. In order to facilitate the resurgence in westbound freight out of China, Geodis quickly followed up on the 21st with the first round trip service departing from Liege (Belgium), again with the destination Shanghai Pudong International. As of the February 28 weekly round trip flights were established from Frankfurt, with Shanghai departures each Tuesday. This schedule will remain in place throughout the month of March when consideration of a further extension will be made and is being complemented by flights from Hong Kong to Europe.

Geodis has continued with its newly introduced direct, dedicated service from Hong Kong to Guadalajara, Mexico, through March.

Geodis also maintains its offering of rail solutions from major cities in China. Two options are scheduled from Xi’an and Chongqing to the German destinations of Hamburg and Duisburg. The standard services have an 18 day transit time and from Xi’an to Hamburg an express, 12-day solution is provided. Return routings are also available.

Immediately following the decision by US authorities to close its borders to visitors from Europe and to prepare for the consequent sharp decrease in commercial cargo capacity, Geodis established a return air charter program linking Amsterdam and Chicago on a four flights a week schedule.