Jaguar Land Rover jets vehicles to US to improve export efficiency
Jaguar Land Rover has teamed up with airline Emirates to help improve the export of its vehicles to the United States.
Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates, his operating one of its adapted freighter aircraft from Birmingham Airport as part of a new bespoke service especially for JLR.
The Boeing 777 Freighter, which has a capacity of more than 100 tonnes of cargo, is flying the vehicles straight into O’Hare International at Birmingham’s twin city of Chicago.
Metro Shipping, the logistics service provider appointed by JLR as well as partner to Emirates and strategic partner of Birmingham Airport, was on hand to coordinate the logistics of the new shipment.
The freighter service is part of Emirates SkyCargo’s specialised offering, Emirates SkyWheels, which transports premium vehicles by air.
Airlifting the vehicles direct to Chicago also saves JLR additional handling charges in the United States by reducing unnecessary road freight journeys.
The Boeing 777 Freighter is one of the most modern, technologically advanced transport planes currently available, and has the lowest fuel burn of any comparable sized aircraft. Its wide main deck cargo doors can accommodate large and outsized shipments.
Hiran Perera, Senior Vice President, Cargo Planning and Freighters, Emirates SkyCargo, said: “We have seen huge demand from customers across the globe for bespoke transportation solutions for various business verticals, which is why we’ve launched a number of sector-specific products as part of our offerings, such as Emirates SkyPharma, Emirates SkyWheels and more recently Emirates SkyFresh.
“It is a positive development that we are able to work with leading car manufacturers like Jaguar Land Rover. As a global facilitator of trade with a network spanning 155 destinations across six continents, we look forward to working with businesses across the Midlands and the UK to help them connect with their international counterparts.”
Paul Kehoe, CEO at Birmingham Airport said: “Air connectivity is an absolutely vital ingredient in growing success and supporting global manufacturing brands such as Jaguar Land Rover.
“It therefore makes absolute sense to see more exporters using Birmingham Airport as a gateway to the world and I encourage business leaders in the region to support this opportunity to even further enhance the success of Midlands Engine.”
Lawrence Boyle, Global Test Facilities Team Leader, Jaguar Land Rover said: “This is another milestone for Jaguar Land Rover as it continues to improve productivity, saving significant time and cost in the movement of our vehicles.
“By working with Emirates SkyCargo and using Birmingham Airport, we have a hub much closer to the centre of our engineering and manufacturing operations, enabling us to transport our premium products more quickly and efficiently. We are proud to have played a role in making this happen and supporting sustainable, profitable growth.”
