Grade A freight service for time-sensitive exam papers bound for Malawi

Europa Air & Sea in Dubai continues to demonstrate its depth of expertise in transporting time-sensitive cargo having recently chartered an aircraft to transport exam papers from the UAE to Malawi.

With a very short time frame between print and delivery, cargo needed delivering to the Malawi National Examination Board, in time for July’s exams. In fact, Europa ensured the cargo was loaded it onto the aircraft and bound for its Malawi destination in just 12 hours from collection.

The Abu Dhabi-based printer had experienced delays and unprecedented additional costs previously and needed the help of a local expert with a global reach to charter an aircraft from Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport (AUH).

Furthermore, Europa had the additional challenge of a local two-day celebration for Eid al-Adha, which required additional planning, commitment, and experience in project cargo.

Pulling out all the stops, Europa cleared the cargo for export from Abu Dhabi, and managed the ground handling to ensure the cargo was received, screened, and loaded to the aircraft in a very short time frame.

Europa Air & Sea is the specialist air and ocean freight division of ambitious logistics provider Europa Worldwide Group. The company’s team of 15 in Dubai, which recently celebrated its second birthday, managed the cargo from point of pick up to delivery to Lilongwe International Airport in Malawi, from where the consignee cleared and managed onward distribution to schools and colleges across the country.

Nathan Lynn, General Manager for Europa Air & Sea in Dubai, said: “The problem for our customer was the timeliness of the cargo – due to the risks associated with exam papers being leaked, the time between them being printed and students taking the exam had to be kept at a minimum.

“The customer had previously incurred unexpected fees and hidden costs with another provider due to the complexities of chartering aircraft. They were looking for a freight operator with a local presence and an honest and transparent approach, who had experience in transporting time-sensitive cargo.”

Europa Air & Sea has a global footprint, local offices and a specialist customs infrastructure set up across Hong Kong, China, India, the UAE and the UK. With expertise in navigating complexities for time-critical project cargo, the Dubai operation was able to clear the cargo and deliver the consignments in record time.

Using a bespoke customer-centric visibility platform, designed inhouse, Europa Air & Sea has full control over customers’ cargo from start to finish. LeoWeb, which launched in 2016, is maintained by a team of 100 experts globally and provides customers real-time data on every consignment and improves communication between stakeholders.

Nathan continued: “Delivering time-sensitive cargo without delay is made possible through continued investment in our consultative approach, working closely with customers to understanding their pain points and provide solutions so that they can get on with their “Day job”.

“It is the perfect example of how with our expertise and infrastructure, regardless of the size or timeframes we can guarantee a seamless movement of goods.”

Europa’s Dubai office was established in 2022 and is strategically located near Dubai International Airport. The local team, made up of local air and sea freight, and customs specialists, has been key in providing the necessary customer service and support.

This has resulted in a successful launch for the company’s ocean consol service operating between the UK and the Gulf Corporation Council (GCC). As the team turns two, it also celebrates success in delivering time-critical cargo from the UK to Dubai on a chartered Antonov An-122 –(AN-124) one of the largest commercial aircraft in the world.