Air Charter Service flies more than thirty million kilograms of cargo

Leading aircraft charter specialist, Air Charter Service, has reported that in 2013 it chartered aircraft carrying a total of 31,172 tonnes of cargo. The company, which saw a 13% increase in the number of cargo charter contracts last year, utilises a range of aircraft from helicopters to the giant AN-225 for its customers’ cargo shipments, with payloads ranging from just a few kilos to more than one hundred tonnes. Justin Lancaster, Group Commercial Director, commented: “This figure is the first time we’ve been able to accurately calculate how much freight we actually transport in a year. We feel that it is a huge amount for a charter company as, often, chartering aircraft is a last resort when all other possibilities have been exhausted.” Commenting on the disaster in the Philippines last November and the cargo community’s response, Lancaster added: “A large portion of that total amount was around 2,000 tonnes of relief equipment following Typhoon Haiyan to the affected areas in and around the Philippines last year. This is part of our work where we feel like we are really making a difference – actually saving lives. We had several ACS staff members on the ground not long after the typhoon hit and they, as well as the rest of us, were all very humbled to have once again played a part in helping those in desperate need.” Air Charter Service arranged almost 7,500 charters in total in 2013. www.aircharterservice.com