Following a devastating fire at their Magna Park (Lutterworth) distribution warehouse, rapidly expanding nationwide value fashion retailer PRIMARK needed to replenish their stock for the busy Christmas period. Over 600 tons of new stock needed to be urgently flown to the East Midlands from India and the Far East.
Primark contacted Eagle Global Logistics who in turn used Chapman Freeborn to put together six aircraft charters, each carrying over 100 tonnes of anything from nightgowns to thongs.
The close proximity of Nottingham East Midlands Airport to the Magna Park site made NEMA the ideal destination airport for the flights.
Arriving in three Antonov AN-124's operated by Volga Dnepr and Polet Cargo, an Emirates B747-200F and a B747-400F and the world's largest aircraft - the Antonov AN-225 operated by Antonov Airlines - the goods arrived over a ten day period and were soon on a fleet of trucks heading for Magna Park. Handling at the Airport was undertaken by DHL/Aviation Solutions.
Geoff Lancaster, Head of External Affairs ABF/Primark said, "The ability of our local airport to handle these huge aircraft has enabled PRIMARK to re-stock quickly and cost-effectively following the fire. It was essential to use air freight to get the clothing here before Christmas and with Nottingham EMA just down the road from us the goods were in the warehouse within hours of the aircraft landing at the airport".
