ACS Time Critical executes a 20-flight, 65-tonne cargo move to the US
Following an assessment of both charter and scheduled service options, the company developed a multi-flight NFO solution designed to meet the customer's delivery deadline while reducing overall costs.
Air Charter Service (ACS) has completed a complex time-critical cargo movement involving nearly 65 tonnes of energy machinery from Shanghai, China, to the United States, using a Next Flight Out (NFO) solution comprising 20 scheduled flights instead of a dedicated charter operation.
The shipment was managed by ACS Time Critical, the company's specialist division for urgent cargo movements. The consignment was originally required to move from Shanghai to Nashville, Tennessee. Following an assessment of both charter and scheduled service options, the company developed a multi-flight NFO solution designed to meet the customer's delivery deadline while reducing overall costs.
According to Robert Alleman, CEO of ACS Time Critical, the company evaluated a range of premium cargo services before determining the most suitable approach. “One of our customers came to us with 65 tonnes of machinery that they needed to get from Shanghai in China to Nashville, Tennessee. In this situation, having a wide range of premium cargo services available to our clients proved beneficial, as we separately evaluated both charter and NFO options to determine the best choice for the customer. Due to several factors, including the wait for all flight permits, we came up with a comprehensive 20-flight NFO solution.”
Instead of routing the cargo directly to Nashville, ACS selected Chicago as the U.S. gateway for the shipment. The company said the decision was based on the availability of more frequent flight connections and cargo handling infrastructure capable of processing the shipment more efficiently. The revised routing also contributed to lower transportation costs while maintaining the required delivery schedule.
Alleman explained the rationale behind the decision: “The solution involved going into Chicago rather than Nashville, which wasn’t much further away than its final destination. This option was the logical choice, as it offered more frequent flights and better-suited handling capabilities – processing the cargo quicker – as well as making the whole operation more cost-effective. We were able to find the customer an entire solution the same day as their enquiry – a total of 20 separate scheduled service departures, flying over the course of several days, with the first departing just a couple of days after confirmation. To stay on top of all the departures and arrivals, especially at nighttime, we enlisted the help of our 24-hour operations team, along with ACS colleagues across the world in different time zones, and we had all hands on deck to get them all over the line.”
The operation required coordination across multiple time zones and continuous monitoring of flight departures and arrivals. ACS mobilised its round-the-clock operations team alongside staff in different regional offices to oversee the movement and ensure each stage of the shipment progressed according to schedule.
The cargo reached its destination in just over a week, meeting the customer's required timeline. ACS said the NFO solution delivered the shipment at a lower cost than a full aircraft charter while maintaining the speed required for the project.
Reflecting on the operation, Alleman said, "In a little over a week, all the cargo had arrived, in time for the customer’s deadline and for less than the cost of a full charter. The years of NFO expertise really paid off on this job. Whilst a single flight is the norm, these kinds of requests really test us. The operation is a prime example of the benefit of having the ACS network and range of premium cargo solutions – customers don’t necessarily come to us for a specific service; they come to us to move their cargo, knowing we have the options to find the optimum solution.”
The shipment highlights the growing role of flexible air cargo solutions in supporting industrial and energy sector supply chains, particularly when time constraints, permit requirements and cost considerations make conventional charter operations less suitable. It also demonstrates how freight forwarders and charter specialists are increasingly combining scheduled air services with time-critical logistics expertise to provide tailored cargo transportation solutions.
