Rapid AOG recovery with dedicated cargo deployment.
Aircraft on Ground (AOG) situations generate significant hourly revenue losses for airlines and MRO operators, making speed of response the overriding priority. Our broker partners handle urgent component requests from the moment you submit them, coordinating dispatch from the origin facility through to delivery at the maintenance hangar. They source dedicated freighters, express light jets or onboard couriers based on the size, weight and urgency of the shipment, working to get the part to the grounded aircraft in the shortest feasible timeframe, subject to aircraft positioning, permits and airport access at the maintenance location.
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Rapid dispatch: Broker partners coordinate cargo flights, express jets or onboard couriers airborne within hours of request, managing permits, priority ramp access and tarmac-to-tarmac delivery at the destination.
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Specialized component handling: Oversized turbine engines, composite sections, flight control assemblies and sensitive avionics are transported using appropriately configured freighters with rigging teams and protective loading procedures.
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Direct hangar delivery: Broker partners coordinate with airport authorities to route components directly to maintenance facilities, bypassing standard cargo terminal processing where airport procedures and customs clearance allow.
Express freight for manufacturing and production line recovery.
Production line shutdowns in aerospace, automotive, semiconductor or precision manufacturing carry steep hourly costs and cascading supply chain effects. When a critical component is missing, standard belly cargo timelines are not fast enough. Our broker partners source the fastest available cargo capacity to deliver the part directly to the factory, coordinating specialized handling for sensitive items such as CNC tooling, injection molds or precision assemblies. They match aircraft type to shipment size and route distance, subject to aircraft availability and customs pre-clearance.
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Production continuity: Deliver missing components directly to manufacturing sites to help restore production schedules, avoiding the cascading delays and costs of extended line shutdowns.
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Direct industrial routing: Fly cargo into regional airports closest to the production facility, reducing ground transfer time and getting the part into the factory faster than routing through congested primary cargo hubs.
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Flexible aircraft selection: Broker partners match cargo capacity to shipment size, from light jets carrying small critical parts to Boeing 737F freighters transporting heavy tooling or production machinery across continents.
Onboard courier (OBC) and hand-carry delivery services.
When a shipment is small in size but critical in value or urgency, onboard courier (OBC) services offer the fastest possible delivery by placing a professional courier on a flight with the item in personal custody at all times. This eliminates cargo consolidation delays, terminal processing queues and the separation risk that comes with standard freight routing. Our broker partners coordinate trained OBC professionals who escort time-critical parcels from pickup to recipient handover, maintaining documented chain of custody throughout, subject to airline acceptance, security screening and customs procedures.
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Personal chain of custody: A trained courier physically accompanies the shipment from collection through to recipient handover, maintaining documented control of the item at every stage of the journey.
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Faster terminal processing: OBCs pass through passenger terminals rather than cargo facilities, significantly reducing processing time and enabling same-day or next-day delivery on transatlantic and intercontinental routes.
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Real-time status updates: Broker partners provide tracking updates and checkpoint confirmations throughout the courier journey, keeping you informed of progress from pickup to final delivery signature.
Around-the-clock monitoring and proactive logistics management.
Time-critical freight operates on timelines where a customs delay, weather disruption or missed airport slot can compromise the entire mission. Our broker partners provide continuous operational monitoring across time zones, tracking shipment progress and anticipating disruptions before they affect delivery. They coordinate customs pre-clearance, contingency aircraft positioning and alternative routing when conditions change, working to keep the shipment moving within the committed timeframe, subject to airspace conditions, regulatory processing and ground handling availability.
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Active flight tracking: Broker partners monitor cargo flight progress in real time, tracking weather conditions, ATC developments and ground handling status to anticipate delays and initiate contingency measures early.
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Customs pre-clearance: Broker partners coordinate with customs brokers to complete Air Waybills, export declarations and regulatory documentation in advance, reducing border processing time for urgent shipments.
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Contingency planning: When disruptions occur, broker partners activate backup aircraft, alternative routing or secondary airport options to protect delivery timelines and keep the shipment progressing.
Frequently asked questions about express and AOG air cargo charter.
Facing an AOG situation or urgent freight requirement? Below are answers to common questions about how express cargo charters and OBC services are organized. Submit your request through the IONA JETS platform, and our broker partners will handle all quoting, logistics and coordination on your behalf.
IONA JETS acts solely as a digital referral platform connecting clients with independent air charter brokers across private, commercial and cargo aviation. IONA JETS is not an air carrier or aircraft operator and does not operate any flights; all flights are quoted, contracted and performed exclusively by third‑party brokers and/or certified operators under their own licenses, terms and conditions and insurance policies. The descriptions provided on this website are of a general nature and reflect common practices and service standards within the air charter industry; they are for guidance only and do not constitute a guarantee that a particular service, configuration or feature will be available on every mission. All services remain subject to operational constraints, availability and applicable regulations, and the precise conditions of your trip or shipment will be confirmed by the broker partner at the time of booking. Any transport‑related obligations or liabilities rest solely with the contractual carrier and/or broker identified in the booking documentation.
Is customs clearance managed for express freight?
Yes. Broker partners coordinate customs pre-clearance, Air Waybill processing, hazardous materials declarations and export documentation to help time-critical shipments clear borders without administrative delays, subject to the regulatory requirements of each jurisdiction.
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What is an onboard courier (OBC) service?
An OBC is a professional courier who physically accompanies a time-critical parcel through passenger terminals, maintaining personal chain of custody from pickup to delivery. This bypasses cargo processing delays and is suited to small, high-value or highly urgent shipments requiring same-day or next-day delivery.
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Can oversized aircraft engines be transported on an urgent basis?
Yes. Broker partners source heavy-lift freighters such as Antonov An-124 or Boeing 747F with reinforced floors and oversized cargo doors, capable of transporting turbine engines and large aerospace components to the maintenance facility on urgent timelines.
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How quickly can an urgent AOG cargo flight be dispatched?
Broker partners can in many cases have cargo aircraft or express jets airborne within 2 to 6 hours of request, depending on aircraft positioning, crew availability, route permits, customs pre-clearance requirements at the origin and destination, and any overflight or landing authorizations needed along the route.
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