Kuehne+Nagel and SATS Ltd. have introduced an expedited delivery service for urgent aircraft parts in Singapore, reinforcing their 2023 Memorandum of Understanding on value chain optimization and sustainability.

The two companies are also expanding their partnership to strengthen resilience and enhance efficiency in global air cargo logistics supply chains.

In the announcement, the partners said that for time-critical shipments, SATS and Sterling, a Kuehne+Nagel company, have launched the new solution at Singapore Changi Airport to address Aircraft-on-Ground (AOG) emergencies — critical situations where aircraft are grounded due to technical or mechanical issues.

These disruptions can result in significant operational and financial impacts, making quick access to spare parts a high priority for the aviation industry.

"The new solution reduces delivery times and provides enhanced real-time shipment visibility, enabling faster return to service," Kuehne+Nagel and SATS said.

Extending their collaboration beyond Singapore, Kuehne+Nagel and SATS have also launched a series of strategic collaborations aimed at improving warehouse and trucking efficiency, optimising fast-track connectivity for multi-modal Sea-Air logistics, and an expedited delivery service for the aerospace industry.

In terms of trucking and warehouse, WFS, a SATS company, and Kuehne+Nagel have successfully launched a service at Frankfurt Airport to accelerate import cargo clearances. The initiative aims to optimise operational capacity and reduce delays by streamlining cargo pick-up and delivery by truck, ensuring customers’ requests are fulfilled immediately.

Further joint projects are planned at Frankfurt Airport to improve airfreight processes at the hub.

For sea-air multi-modal services, the companies launched sea-air logistics in Los Angeles and Singapore hubs, which offer faster connectivity, reducing transit time, costs, and carbon emissions by streamlining shipment handling directly from port to airside facilities. 

"Our partnership with SATS proved vital during the Red Sea crisis, supporting our Sea-Air solutions to mitigate disruptions to our customers’ supply chains," Yngve Ruud, EVP Air Logistics at Kuehne+Nagel, said.

"We're excited to expand this collaboration with SATS to enhance value in supply chains through trucking, warehousing, and time-critical shipment solutions."

Francois Mirallie, deputy CEO Gateway Services Global, SATS Ltd., noted that the expanded collaboration with Kuehne+Nagel underscores our shared commitment to building smarter, more resilient global supply chains.

"By combining SATS' deep expertise in air cargo handling with Kuehne+Nagel's global logistics network, we are accelerating innovation across critical touchpoints. Together, we are delivering agile, customer-centric solutions that meet the evolving needs of our ecosystem partners," he said.

The companies said they are committed to expanding their global collaboration to include solutions for the healthcare and aerospace sectors.