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From city centers to rugged mountaintops in the Vancouver wilderness, there is no transport job too complicated for JAS Canada’s team to achieve. Case in point: the recent delivery of an RFS antenna shipped from France to a remote location near Williams Lake, British Columbia. The antenna was added to an existing communications tower to help boost telecommunication services in this remote B.C. town.
Anna Isaj, from the JAS Forwarding Worldwide Insurance and Claims department, said this one was of the most challenging requests for transport she has handled for this client in her 10 years of working with them. What made the process so difficult was securing a flat rack container, OOG Dept. approval, and shipping container to move the antenna from its manufacturer in France to its destination in Williams Lake, B.C.
“The current export market conditions lead to several weeks’ waiting time between the booking confirmation and the estimated time of departure,” said Isaj. “A shortage of equipment and congestion at the ports have made every day very challenging for the team.”
The port at Le Havre, France, where the antenna was scheduled to depart from, continues to experience backlogs due to productivity-related issues. Some container lines are bypassing this key French port to avoid the hassle, which is making it difficult for logistics managers to ship products on tight deadlines. Working around these issues requires creativity and connections to top carriers. JAS Canada’s team was up for the challenge.
Isaj and her team received the dimensions of the antenna from their client. It weighed 1,750kg, dims, with dimensions of 500x240x282cm. They determined the safest way to transport the aerial transmitter from the factory in France to the shipping port was using a combination of a step-deck trailer outfitted with a flat rack container. Once the container arrived at the port, it could be loaded directly onto the ocean freighter.
The JAS France team assisted with securing the transport and shipping container for the move. It took their team six weeks to locate and procure a flat rack container. With shipping ports still backed up from the height of the global pandemic, shippers often must wait for the shipping containers needed.
The team approached all the ocean lines in its pursuit to get the antenna shipped by the deadline. All but one responded they had no bookings available due to space and equipment constraints. One ocean line said it could accommodate shipping but could not guarantee arrival at the Port of Vancouver by the required time of arrival.
Identifying the delay and providing a new estimated time of departure to the client was the next crucial step in the process. Since the delay in receiving the antenna did not cause the telecom’s customers to be without service, the client agreed to the new timeline. “As long as the shipment was delivered in good order, the delay was accepted by the customer,” said Isaj.
Once aboard the vessel, it took 46 days transit time for the antenna to arrive at the Port of Vancouver from the port at Le Havre, France.
Upon arrival at the Port of Vancouver, the shipment required clearance from customs. Following approval from Canadian Customs, the oversize microwave antenna was unloaded from the flat rack container. JAS Canada arranged the delivery to the remote location in Williams Lake on a step-deck trailer. The JAS Canada team also secured a crane that was required to unload the antenna from the step-deck trailer. Getting the crane to the remote location was another challenge for her team, Isaj said.
“This was quite challenging; however, it was successfully done by our team. The amount of endless effort put forth by both the JAS France and JAS Canada teams to complete the door-to-door delivery of this oversize shipment was incredible.”
ATLANTA, February 20, 2025 – JAS, a global leader in logistics and supply chain solutions, has successfully completed its acquisition of International Airfreight Associates B.V. ("IAA"), a specialized provider of Air, Ocean and Road Freight services headquartered in the Netherlands. This milestone follows the signing of the Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) announced in December 2024 and marks the official integration of IAA into the JAS network.
"The acquisition of IAA strengthens the JAS global logistics portfolio and access to key markets, particularly in the time-critical perishable goods sector," said Marco Rebuffi, CEO and President of JAS. "We are proud to welcome IAA's talented highly experienced team to JAS and are looking forward to delivering excellent service to our customers together."
Jur de Graaf, Managing Director of International Airfreight Associates, added, "Joining JAS allows us to expand our services globally and continue delivering high-quality logistics solutions for our customers. We are confident that our partnership will create new opportunities for our employees, partners and clients.”
IAA is one of the top 3 IATA forwarders at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport with Warehouses and Operations in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. IAA specializes in managing time-sensitive perishable fresh goods and livestock shipments as well as multimodal general cargo.
The acquisition strengthens JAS global service portfolio by enhancing the footprint in the European logistics market and beyond. Together, JAS and IAA teams will drive customer value through expanded service offerings, operational excellence, and an even broader global network.
About JAS
JAS, a global leader in logistics and supply chain solutions, was founded in Milan, Italy, in 1978. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and supported by 7,000+ team members in more than 100 countries, JAS focuses on creating solutions that are innovative, sustainable, and tailored to customer needs. As a privately owned company, JAS is committed to creating opportunities for communities, customers, and colleagues to thrive.
About International Airfreight Associates B.V.
International Airfreight Associates B.V. ("IAA") is a specialized provider of Air, Ocean and Road Freight services headquartered in the Netherlands. With nearly 100 employees and strategic locations and operations including Amsterdam, Aalsmeer, Rotterdam, and Frankfurt, the company specializes in moving fresh perishable goods, livestock and multimodal supply chain solutions for a diverse range of clients.
On January 24, 2025, industry leaders gathered at the Renaissance Warsaw Airport Hotel to celebrate a year of collaboration with Lufthansa Cargo.
The evening brought together key partners to reflect on past achievements, discuss future opportunities, and recognize outstanding performance across the logistics sector.
JAS Poland had a standout night, earning three awards for exceptional performance in 2024:
The event featured an inspiring speech by Ashwin Bhat, CEO of Lufthansa Cargo AG, and a panel discussion on the evolving landscape of e-commerce. The awards gala was a testament to the strong partnerships and shared success within the industry.
A heartfelt thank you to Lufthansa Cargo for their continued trust and collaboration. Here’s to another year of reaching new heights!
The European Union's Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate is set to reshape the aviation industry, requiring airlines to incorporate a minimum of 2% SAF in their fuel mix starting in 2025. This regulation represents a major step toward reducing carbon emissions, but it also brings substantial cost challenges for carriers operating across Europe.
Impact on Freight Costs and Sustainability Surcharges
The implementation of the SAF mandate is driving up operational costs for airlines, directly influencing freight rates. To offset these additional expenses, airlines are introducing mandatory sustainability surcharges on shipments departing from or transiting through European airports. While this presents immediate financial challenges, it also serves as a catalyst for innovation and investment in alternative fuels, paving the way for a more sustainable aviation sector.
Balancing Cost and Sustainability
As airlines adapt to these regulatory changes, they must navigate the delicate balance between cost management and environmental responsibility. The evolution of SAF production, along with advancements in supply chain logistics, will play a critical role in determining how efficiently the industry can meet these mandates. Collaboration between fuel suppliers, airlines, and logistics partners will be essential to ensuring a smooth transition.
Stay Informed with JAS
To help our customers understand the implications of this new regulation, we invite you to download HERE the JAS One-Pager on the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation. This resource provides a clear and user-friendly overview of the changes and their impact on airfreight logistics. Additionally, you can visit the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation website for further details (ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation website )
At JAS, we are committed to clear and transparent communication regarding regulatory changes affecting global supply chains. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your nearest JAS representative for more information and tailored support.
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