In early August 2025, Tallinn Airport witnessed a rare sight as one of the world’s largest cargo aircraft, Antonov AN-124-100, arrived to carry out an urgent and critical special transport. The aircraft drew attention with its impressive size and sound and its arrival was widely covered by Estonian media.
The transport was part of a woodyard rebuild project in Chile and required precise planning and international coordination. Kuehne+Nagel managed the entire logistics chain in collaboration with Antonov Airlines. The aircraft was loaded with oversized steel structures manufactured by ANDRITZ. The safe and timely delivery from Tallinn to Chile was crucial to the success of the mill’s repair work and scheduled shutdown.
“Special care and professional planning by the ANDRITZ logistics team, along with logistics partners Kuehne+Nagel and Antonov, ensured that the 60 ton cargo was loaded efficiently and delivered to the mill on time,” commented Tiina Penttilä, Vice President Logistics, ANDRITZ Pulp & Paper.
Toni Metsberg, Air Logistics Manager at Kuehne+Nagel Finland, stated: “This transport demonstrated how air freight can play a crucial role in critical projects. Moving oversized machine structures required close cooperation between all parties, thorough planning, and rapid response to changing conditions. We are proud to have supported our customer and ensured a safe and on-time delivery.”
The expertise and agility of Kuehne+Nagel’s air freight teams in Finland, Estonia, and Chile, along with the Frankfurt charter team, combined with close collaboration with Antonov Airlines and ANDRITZ, were key factors in the successful execution of this special cargo operation.
“This project was something that tested our skills and knowledge, and I am extremely happy that we were able to prove that we can handle the challenges and deliver as promised,” summarizes Aivar Kents, Air Logistics Manager at Kuehne+Nagel Estonia.
All images featured in this publication: Janne Saari, Marketing Manager, ANDRITZ Pulp & Paper
