GEODIS, one of the world’s leading supply chain providers, has entered into a five-year Load Unit Supply, Management and Repair (ULD) agreement with Unilode Aviation Solutions, the market leader in services outsourced management and repair to ULD.
Currently, GEODIS leases an A330-300 aircraft, converted to cargo, and serves AMS, ORD, STN and HKG, in order to increase the speed of the supply chain and the air cargo capacity of its customers. Unilode supplies containers and pallets to GEODIS and offers its full range of ULD management solutions, including purchasing, planning, logistics, repair and scanning.
Stanislas Brun, Senior Vice President, Global Air Freight, GEODIS, said: “As the air cargo capacity offered by airlines has decreased significantly during the pandemic, we have decided to hire our own cargo plane to ensure the availability of air freight space for our customers and increase the speed of their shipments. Unilode’s ULD management services have proven to be the most convenient and suitable solution for GEODIS start-up activities because in addition to providing the necessary ULD stock at all our destinations, Unilode takes also in charge of all operational tasks related to ULDs. We are satisfied with our newly formed partnership and are confident that our cooperation will be further developed in terms of volume and services. “
Marc Groenewegen, Commercial Director of Unilode, said: “GEODIS ‘investment in its own dedicated aircraft is a prime example of ownership by freight forwarders to overcome air cargo capacity shortages. From Unilode’s pooled ULD fleet, we are able to quickly supply the containers and pallets required for GEODIS cargo aircraft operations. In addition, we also reduce the costs and carbon emissions associated with repositioning damaged equipment, as Unilode has its own ULD repair centers covering GEODIS destinations in the Netherlands, UK, USA and in Hong Kong. We look forward to partnering with GEODIS and contributing to the success and growth of its own air freight operations.