Air charter industry steps up again in 2024 responding to humanitarian crises

The air charter industry has stepped up once again in 2024 responding to crises around the globe, once again highlighting the importance of chartered aircraft. This year the industry has been busy assisting in humanitarian operations in the Far East, Africa, the Middle East, Caribbean, as well as North and South America, in the aftermaths of a number of natural disasters and civil unrests.

Ben Dinsdale, Air Charter Service’s Director for Government and Humanitarian Services, explains: “The industry has been called into action multiple times this year, all around the globe, to facilitate charters into disaster-stricken regions. It is the time that the aircraft charter community really pulls together – in such situations, multiple skillsets are required, from a range of professionals all over the globe. From navigating the geopolitical landscape in the region, to carrying out complex operations in remote regions – it is all made possible due to hugely talented and dedicated operators, ground staff and support crews around the world.

“This year there have been multiple situations in which the industry has been required to help, with several natural disasters and civil unrests. In Papua New Guinea, there was a devastating landslide where a large portion of Mount Mungalo collapsed, burying hundreds of homes in a remote community – the displaced survivors urgently needed shelter and medicines. The worst flood Brazil had seen for 80 years caused widespread landslides and dam collapses, leaving at least 580,000 people displaced from their homes, and they needed shelter and medicinal supplies in the direct aftermath. And Hurricane Beryl hit the Caribbean hard, causing widespread damage to many of the islands in the area, leading to aid flights to the region, as well as evacuations.

“The civil collapse in Haiti, has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, and the escalating conflict of the Sudanese civil war has led to mass displacement for much of the population. Both situations have required multiple flights with shelter equipment. Most recently, following the invasion of Lebanon last month, the country has required a huge amount of aid flights, as well as multiple evacuations.”

“For ACS, the Sudanese civil war led to a series of charters into Port Sudan and Ndjamena, in Chad, with the aid originating in Pakistan and the UAE, and we utilised a wide range of aircraft types. But the biggest operation this year has been over the past month or so, following the invasion of Lebanon. We have arranged more than 20 cargo flights carrying in over 600 tons of aid, as well as organising 30 evacuation charters, moving several thousand people out of the country.

“At ACS we are in an almost unique position with our truly global network of offices, meaning that we have been involved with, and responded to, virtually every humanitarian logistical operation over the past few decades. In such situations we feel fortunate to be able to call on a hugely talented network of industry suppliers to deliver these complex operations around the world. This year has, once again, highlighted some of the vitally important work that the air charter industry delivers.”