Background

PE is an aircraft engine manufacturer supplying critical components to customers across Europe. For one particular shipment, PE arranged for an aircraft engine to be transported to Switzerland using a courier company, as the engine was urgently required by the end customer.

The Problem

The courier failed to arrange the necessary customs clearance before departing with the shipment. As a result, the engine became stranded at the Swiss border, unable to proceed due to missing customs documentation. The delay posed a serious risk to delivery schedules and operational continuity for the customer.

Our Involvement

At 4.30pm on a Friday afternoon, PE contacted Aerona in a state of urgency. Acting immediately as PE’s appointed customs agent, we assessed the situation and took responsibility for resolving the customs issue without delay.

The Solution

Our customs clearing services team swiftly arranged retrospective customs clearance, ensuring that all required documentation was completed and approved. In parallel, we issued a copy of the customs approval to our local customs agent at the Swiss border, enabling the shipment to be released as soon as clearance was granted. All actions were completed within 30 minutes of receiving PE’s instructions.

Outcome

Thanks to Aerona’s rapid response and expertise in customs procedures, the engine cleared customs without further delay and was delivered to the end customer the following morning. A potentially critical disruption was successfully avoided.

Lessons Learned

This case demonstrates the importance of ensuring customs arrangements are in place before shipment, particularly for time-critical and high-value goods. It also highlights the value of having an experienced customs agent available to manage unexpected issues and provide fast, effective solutions.

Conclusion

Aerona’s knowledge of UK import customs clearance processes, combined with our responsive customs clearing services and international agent network, ensured a swift and successful resolution. By acting decisively and putting our customer’s needs first, we turned a potential crisis into a positive outcome.

For expert advice on UK import customs clearance or assistance with an urgent shipment, call 0161 652 3443 to speak with one of our customs agents.