Delivery of critical air charter solution
Following the severe damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Narelle in March 2026, Bertling Australia managed a complex emergency logistics operation to transport hundreds of critical fin fan blades from multiple U.S. suppliers to regional Western Australia. As the scope rapidly expanded from two emergency charters to multiple international shipments, our experienced local team in Perth adapted in real time - consolidating cargo from different suppliers, navigating quarantine requirements for both new and used equipment, overcoming regional airport limitations, and developing tailored solutions to keep the project moving. Every decision was driven by one objective: restoring the customers’ operations as quickly as possible.
POL: Huoston, USA (multiple supplier locations in Texas)
POD: Karratha & Port Hedland, Western Australia
Industry: Oil & Gas
Volume: Hundreds of fin fan blades transported via multiple emergency air charters (7 full charters in total and commercial air freight BSA hybrid solutions, in total: 68 packages / 29,826.920 kg/164.144 cbm)
Bertling Team: Australia, USA, Air Charter, Project Logistics, Customs & Quarantine Coordination, Operations
Innovative Final Delivery Solution
As the project evolved, Bertling Australia engineered a hybrid logistics solution by combining commercial air freight capacity with dedicated charter capability. Cargo was transported from Houston to Auckland using a commercial carrier Block Space Agreement (BSA), before seamlessly transferring onto a dedicated Air charter for direct delivery to Port Hedland.
The operation required detailed coordination between multiple stakeholders, including airlines, handling agents, customs authorities, quarantine teams, and airport operators. Through real-time planning and close collaboration, Bertling ensured the cargo moved efficiently through each stage with minimal delay, maintaining the customer's recovery schedule while adapting to changing project requirements.
Project Expertise & Capabilities
Success was not achieved simply by booking aircraft. It required:
- Strategic logistics solution design and emergency air charter expertise
- Time-critical transportation and project logistics management
- Complex supply chain coordination across multiple countries and suppliers
- Customs, quarantine, and regulatory compliance management
- Crisis response, contingency planning, and operational leadership
- Global teamwork, customer engagement, and 24/7 project execution.
The project demonstrated Bertling’s ability to deliver complex, time-critical logistics solutions for the energy and industrial sectors. From emergency air charters and remote site deliveries to multimodal transportation and supply chain recovery, Bertling provided the expertise, flexibility, and global coordination required to keep critical operations moving when every hour counted.
Going Beyond Expectations
This project demonstrated why Bertling is more than a traditional freight forwarder. Rather than managing the operation remotely, Bertling deployed specialists directly to Karratha and Port Hedland to oversee aircraft arrivals, airside operations, offloading, safety compliance, vendor coordination, and stakeholder communication.
When additional stock was sourced from multiple U.S. suppliers, the team quickly redesigned the transport plan to consolidate shipments and maintain momentum. When aircraft availability and infrastructure limitations created challenges, Bertling developed alternative solutions to protect the customer's recovery timeline.
By taking full ownership from supplier engagement through to final delivery, Bertling reduced operational risk, ensured complete supply chain visibility, and delivered a business-critical logistics solution when speed, expertise, and execution mattered most.
Acknowledgement
A sincere thank you to everyone involved in making this project a success. From our teams in Australia and the United States to our air charter partners, suppliers, ground handlers, customs and quarantine authorities, airport operators, and the customer's project teams, this achievement was made possible through exceptional collaboration, commitment, and around-the-clock dedication.
Your expertise, adaptability, and willingness to go above and beyond under immense pressure exemplify the values that define Bertling and reinforce our reputation as a trusted logistics partner in Australia.