Air Partner, a Wheels Up company, and their Cargo Division recently supported in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl that struck the Caribbean on June 29, 2024.
The Air Partner Cargo Team was called into action and provided aid efforts in Jamaica with a cargo charter flight from Miami (MIA) to Montego Bay (MBJ) utilizing an A321F aircraft to transport 50,000 lbs. and 43 pallets with relief supplies, including family emergency kits, generators, and tarps. This crucial aid was successfully delivered even as the storm continued to bring almost 12 hours of heavy rain to the area.
“The A321F was the perfect choice of aircraft as it not only offers financial operating efficiency but also fits into a niche market between the smaller B737s and the larger B767s,” explained Andrew Holmes, project leader and Vice President of Cargo US at Air Partner. “This is a relatively new passenger-converted freighter designed for the North American market.”
The flight was authorized on July 5th, just a few days after the storm made landfall on the island. The team organized the earliest flight possible, departing at 5:45 p.m. the following day, Saturday, July 6th. The flight successfully took off within 27 hours of confirmation, providing an "incredible, almost divine miracle experience," as stated by the groups who received the aid.
“In a humanitarian aid requirement, time really is of the essence; minutes matter…” explains Holmes, “Accuracy, attention to detail, clear communication, and quick responses are key. When you choose Air Partner, you are choosing a specialist who is an expert in their field, a company that will always put their client’s needs first, from start to finish.”
Hurricane Beryl was the first major hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season and rapidly strengthened to a Category 5 storm. Beryl made landfall in the Caribbean as a Category 4 storm, leaving a trail of devastation and impacting multiple islands, including Grenada, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands. Its path of destruction continued toward Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and the U.S. Gulf Coast. Now considered one of the strongest storms to ever hit the island nation of Jamaica in particular, Hurricane Beryl left the island’s communities in urgent need of support.
Air Partner’s Cargo team has extensive experience delivering critical aid and relief freight through its dedicated cargo charter services. The brand’s global network and round-the-clock support team ensure that Air Partner can provide dependable and timely service to meet even the most urgent of deadlines.