GEODIS has entered into a five-year unit load device (ULD) supply, management and repair agreement with Unilode Aviation Solutions, the market leader in outsourced ULD management and repair services.

At present, GEODIS leases one A330-300 aircraft, converted into a freighter, and flies to AMS, ORD, STN and HKG, to increase supply chain velocity and airfreight capacity for its customers. Unilode supplies containers and pallets to GEODIS and provides its full range of ULD management solutions, including procurement, planning, logistics, repair and digitalisation.

Stanislas Brun, Senior Vice President, Global Air Freight, GEODIS, said: “As airfreight capacity offered by airlines has significantly decreased during the pandemic, we decided to lease our own freighter aircraft to ensure air cargo space availability for our customers and increase the speed of their shipments. Unilode’s ULD management services proved to be the most convenient and appropriate solution for GEODIS’ start-up airline activities as in addition to supplying the necessary stock of ULDs at all our destinations, Unilode also takes care of all ULD-related operational tasks. We are pleased with our newly formed partnership and are confident that our cooperation will be further developed in terms of volume and services.”

Marc Groenewegen, Chief Commercial Officer, Unilode, said: “GEODIS’ investment into its own dedicated aircraft is a great example of freight forwarders taking ownership to overcome air cargo capacity shortages. From Unilode’s pooled ULD fleet we are able to quickly supply containers and pallets needed for GEODIS’ freighter aircraft operations. Additionally, we also reduce costs and carbon emission associated with the repositioning of damaged equipment, as Unilode has its own ULD repair centres covering GEODIS’ destinations in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the USA, and Hong Kong. We look forward to partnering with GEODIS and contributing to the success and growth of its own air cargo operations.”