The phrase "high fashion" causes many to think of models, catwalks, glossy magazines, and displays at famous couturiers. At international logistics provider AsstrA, “haute couture” took on a literal meaning during a transportation project involving a sports brand’s new collection.
A client from the fashion industry requested delivery of the cargo from Delhi in India, where the production shop is located, to the Russian capital of Moscow. The total weight of the cargo was 10 tons. After reviewing the available options, the AsstrA Fashion & Beauty Logistics Department team proposed air delivery. A dedicated charter flight was chosen to meet the customer’s requirements, especially in terms of time and cost.
On June 29, the charter flight organized by logistics operator AsstrA-Associated Traffic AG took place. After five hours, the cargo from Delhi's Indira Gandhi airport arrived at Moscow's Domodedovo airport.
"With closed borders, the request looked like it belonged in a science fiction movie: a significant volume of cargo to be sent on a direct flight. According to the customer's requirements, the transportation route was structured without stops or overloads along the way. The less the cargo was handled, the less likely it was to come into contact with moisture that could harm the fabric,” says Anastasia Vysotskaya, Head of AsstrA Fashion & Beauty Logistics.
Until air services are fully restored, market offerings are limited. Today, in order to reduce costs and increase cargo capacity, some airlines have temporarily converted passenger vessels into cargo vessels. By chartering the entire aircraft, AsstrA's agency team could plan their own loading schedule without regard to other senders. This independence turned out to be beneficial – due to delays the departure date was postponed twice.
"The cargo sender’s second flight cancellation took place just two hours before the expected departure. The aircraft is a complex and commercially "awkward," so such cancellations could have hit the customer's pocket hard. Thanks to our strong relationships with trusted partners at the airline, we managed to successfully complete the project with minimal costs," Anton Seichasov shares.
Charter flights require professionalism and thorough knowledge of flight preparation and organization processes. AsstrA experts coordinated and synchronized agents for terminal handling, loading and unloading operations, and identified and issued the necessary permits and documentation.
"Air transport also involves speed – this is an obvious plus in the fashion industry. If a new collection does not appear on store shelves in time, it becomes an old collection," Anastasia Vysotskaya sums up.