Aircraft charter provider, Air Charter Service (ACS), recently arranged one of its more unusual cargo charters, transporting a Mexican food additive and condiments manufacturer avoid a shutdown in a Nicaraguan factory.

Several tons of seasoning was required in Managua, and ACS was able to source an A330-200F to carry the load.

Luis Canales-Tough, cargo director of ACS Mexico, said the client originally approached ACS for its next flight out (NFO) service, to move around 18 tons of the condiment, used at a meat products manufacturing plant in Managua, to avoid the production line shutting down.

"After discussing the potential closure with the customer we advised that, due to the infrequency of scheduled flights from Mexico to Nicaragua, a charter carrying 51 tons on one flight could be a better solution and would still get there in time, which they agreed to."

The team coordinated with the airline and Nicaraguan authorities to secure the required permits, speeding up the process after obtaining a letter of urgency from the consignee. Because the customer had never arranged a charter before, they were guided through the customs steps needed to keep the shipment on track.

To ensure the move stayed on schedule, staff accompanied the cargo to Managua. The shipment arrived in time to prevent the factory in Nicaragua from having to halt production.