CharterDesk is strengthening its aerospace transport business by combining dedicated aircraft charters, On-Board Courier (OBC) and Next Flight Out (NFO) services to support airlines, aircraft manufacturers and maintenance providers with urgent and planned shipments. The Budapest-based company handles cargo ranging from small, time-critical replacement parts to aircraft engines, tailoring transport arrangements to delivery deadlines, cargo specifications and operational requirements. Aircraft-on-Ground (AOG) movements remain a key part of its business, but the company also supports planned maintenance programmes and production operations, where dependable component deliveries are essential to keeping engineering schedules on track. Its aerospace portfolio spans aircraft engines, landing gear, avionics, spare parts, tooling and structural components. Each movement requires a different combination of aircraft capacity, handling arrangements and delivery coordination. While larger components demand suitable loading equipment and transport capacity, smaller replacement parts may require rapid connections and carefully coordinated last-mile delivery. “Aerospace transport starts with understanding what the customer needs to achieve and how quickly the shipment must arrive,” says Emir Özdabak, Managing Director of CharterDesk. “We assess the cargo and deadline before recommending a dedicated charter, an On-Board Courier or Next Flight Out service. The objective is to minimise downtime or keep production moving.” Ground Coordination Critical to Time-Sensitive Shipments CharterDesk’s approach extends beyond securing aircraft capacity. Its planning process considers packaging, aircraft suitability, loading equipment, customs requirements, collection and final delivery. Coordination among customers, airlines and ground handlers is central to ensuring that the entire movement aligns with the required schedule. The company demonstrated this approach in a shipment involving two CF6 aircraft engines transported from Helsinki to Casablanca aboard an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 777 freighter. CharterDesk completed the delivery within 48 hours of receiving the confirmed requirement, coordinating the operation with its airline and ground-handling partners. A key challenge was sourcing and positioning the required 20-foot pallets in Helsinki before departure. The operation therefore depended not only on securing aircraft capacity but also on ensuring that the appropriate equipment was available at the departure airport in time for loading. “The Helsinki operation showed how much depends on preparation on the ground,” Özdabak says. “We needed the right pallets in position before departure and worked closely with our partners to make that happen. Delivering the engines within 48 hours required everyone involved to work to the same operational timetable.” In another assignment, CharterDesk arranged an Antonov An-12 operation from Brussels to Istanbul carrying a LEAP-1A engine. The two movements illustrate how aircraft selection, cargo specifications and ground-handling requirements shape the transport solution for individual aerospace shipments. Security and Confidentiality Underpin Operations Given the value and sensitivity of aerospace components, security and information management form part of CharterDesk’s planning process. The company works with airline and ground-handling partners on appropriate handling arrangements, clear handover procedures and shipment monitoring as cargo moves between operational stakeholders. Confidentiality is another consideration, particularly for projects involving commercially sensitive information. CharterDesk limits the circulation of customer and shipment details to those involved in the operation while meeting applicable regulatory disclosure requirements. “Our customers need confidence in how we handle both their equipment and their information,” Özdabak says. “We agree clear handover procedures, monitor shipments and share operational details with the people who need them. Where a project requires confidentiality, we maintain that discipline while fulfilling every required regulatory disclosure.” Flexible Transport Options Support Aerospace Demand CharterDesk receives regular enquiries covering planned production shipments, maintenance support and urgent AOG requirements. Its customers include airlines, maintenance providers, manufacturers and specialist freight forwarders. Established relationships help the company respond to recurring requirements, while each shipment is assessed individually according to its urgency, dimensions and delivery deadline. The company sees opportunities to develop its aerospace business as fleet operations, maintenance needs and production activity generate demand for specialised transport. Dedicated charters can accommodate engines and oversized components, while OBC and NFO services offer alternatives for smaller, urgent shipments, subject to available capacity and operational requirements. “Aerospace fits our team’s experience and the airline relationships we have developed,” Özdabak says. “A quick, coordinated response can directly affect a customer’s operations, whether we are supporting an urgent AOG requirement or a planned movement. Offering charter, courier and scheduled flight solutions allows us to build the response around each shipment.” CharterDesk’s aerospace strategy centres on bringing technical assessment, transport selection and partner coordination together in a single operational process. By aligning the movement of high-value components with the requirements of airlines, manufacturers and maintenance teams, the company aims to support time-critical deliveries as well as planned production and engineering activity.