Since the beginning of the first Covid-19 wave, freight forwarders in the Netherlands faced issues with finding space within limited flights capacities from and to Amsterdam. JAS Amsterdam dedicated themselves to be flexible and creative to find the best solutions for their clients. Utilizing our extended JAS network and with the help of other offices in Europe like JAS Frankfurt, have arranged a weekly charter to provide our clients with the service they required throughout these difficult times.

One of our clients, Aviagen Limited, for whom JAS AMS builds specialty aircraft pallets containing day-old chicks, had a peak in shipments during the first half of the year. During that period, JAS Amsterdam handled more than 10,000 boxes and over 700,000-day-old chicks. All served with options through the BENELUX region.

This peak was almost parallel with the peak of Covid-19. The JAS Amsterdam team faced two major challenges. First, to find the required space, and second, to travel within the region while the travel restrictions were the strictest. Negotiations were taking place on a continuous basis with all airlines that are able to handle life animals such as day-old chicks.

In the middle of the restrictions in March, JAS had our first shipment for this peak from Belgium, Liege airport. JAS AMS went with a team to build up the ULD’s with one purpose, to deliver this shipment safely, and in time.

A couple of days later, the JAS team had to head to the south of the Netherlands for a full charter flight from Maastricht (MST), The Netherlands to Abidjan (ABJ), Côte d’Ivoire. This flight contained 7 ULD positions that were built into a Boeing 737F. 749 boxes and over 50.000 chicks. Which was again, safely delivered to the client.

This marked the beginning of a successful period, in which the JAS team made the impossible possible, and went above and beyond to fulfil our responsibility to our client. Today we continue these efforts through a wave of the avian influenza affecting the region and through the second wave of the pandemic. Nevertheless, we will continue providing the support and dedication our clients require. At JAS, people make the difference!

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