Our logistical skills were put to the test when the International Table Tennis Federation asked us to fly 400 professional players to compete in their World Championships in Chengdu. 
Flying 400 professional table tennis players to Chengdu
Our logistical skills were put to the test in September 2022, when the International Table Tennis Federation asked us to fly 400 professional players to compete in their World Championships in Chengdu. With charters unable to land in China without government approval, along with Covid testing requirements, limited aircraft availability and ever-changing passenger lists, our Singapore team needed to demonstrate seamless organisation to pull off this large-scale and complex request.
Our Solution
Route: Singapore > Chengdu > Singapore
Dubai > Chengdu > Dubai
Aircraft: Airbus A330-200/300
We decided to use Singapore and Dubai as departure points for two charter flights, each of which would carry 200 passengers. Both airports had good facilities and were well-connected with scheduled services from around the world.
Working closely with our Beijing office, we liaised with local authorities in China to secure the necessary permits for the flights to land in Chengdu. Despite limited aircraft availability, our experienced brokers sourced two Airbus A330-200/300s to operate the routes before setting up Covid testing at check-in points in each departure airport.
The Finer Details
Flexibility: We accommodated frequent passenger name changes right up until the flights departed.
Global Network: Our team in China were able to help us communicate with the relevant authorities to get the charters approved.
Stakeholder Relationships: We worked closely with the International Table Tennis Federation, Chinese Olympic Committee, Chinese Table Tennis Association, and Chengdu and Chinese governments to coordinate this complex charter.