Having formed a partnership in 2022, Jettainer and Avianca worked hand-in-hand as the South American airline launched the next phase of the company’s operations, rethinking every aspect of its business.
“We needed a partner that was not only strong but also flexible enough to keep up with our growth and the new experiments we were planning,” Leonel Ortiz, Vice President of Operations at Avianca, explained.
“We formalised our collaboration through a commercial cooperation agreement, which allowed us to streamline efficiencies in ULD management. “Jettainer acted quickly, and, after just a few calls with the team, we were able to realise these benefits for both companies. This has been one of the key pillars of our partnership.”
“I’ve seen firsthand the challenges that ULD management creates— something that most airline teams would rather avoid. It’s often seen as a low priority,” Shailendar Kothari, Managing Director of Jettainer Americas, expressed.
“We understand ULDs inside and out; we know how to manage them, and we fully grasp the pain points that airlines face. “Our main focus is ensuring 100 percent availability of the right ULDs at the right place, and we stand by that commitment. That’s what airlines need—a sense of peace of mind. Airlines should be focused on selling belly capacity, cargo space, and chartering aircraft, while we take care of all the headaches related to ULD management.”
Speed of change
For Avianca, one of the reasons for enhancing its partnerships was due to the challenge of its fast growth, opening new operations and growing its route network, something that required a substantial amount of the airline’s focus. Removing the burden of ULD management from its list of concerns through the Jettainer partnership allowed Avianca to focus on its primary purpose as an airline and carrier, while experiencing zero disruptions in ULD availability.
“Since we announced the addition of three to four new freighters, which represents about 70 percent of our capacity, we’ve been deploying this new capacity across various airports,” Ortiz stated.
“Having a partner like this makes it much easier for us to confirm where we’re operating and when without having to worry about ULD availability or stock levels. The flexibility and agility in deliveries are crucial for us, providing a high level of reliability as we move forward. As we bring more aircraft into the region and continue to expand our operations, this support is more important than ever.” “One of the key factors is that we have a very advanced IT platform called Jetware, which provides us with valuable insights into ULD imbalances, both overall and for the upcoming weeks,” Kothari explained.
“This helps us manage the situation effectively so we can ensure ULDs are positioned where they’re needed as quickly as possible. This is where our relationship works so well.” This ability to detect and meet fluctuating demand proves to be particularly important in the South American market, which is highly seasonal.
“There are peak periods like Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and others. Over the past two and a half years, we’ve also learned from Avianca about these demand spikes, so we’re always prepared to meet those needs,” Kothari continued.
