IN Brief:
- XPO Logistics will manage Unilode’s worldwide flows of short-lease equipment, tracking technology, spares, and capital equipment into airline networks.
- A Global Connect control tower will provide critical path planning and round-the-clock coordination across time zones.
- The partnership targets tighter asset positioning and lower inventory buffers for time-critical aviation operations.
Unilode Aviation Solutions has selected XPO Logistics as its strategic global logistics partner, tasking XPO with coordinating worldwide forwarding flows that keep unit load device (ULD) fleets and associated support equipment positioned where airline networks need them. The scope covers short-lease equipment movements, digital tracking technology, critical spare parts, and capital equipment delivered directly into airline operations across multiple continents.
ULDs are the quiet infrastructure of air cargo: pallets, containers, and related equipment that enable standardised loading and rapid turnarounds. When assets are in the wrong place, the operational fix is often expensive — urgent repositioning, last-minute leasing, and reactive inventory builds that increase working capital while still failing to protect service levels during disruption.
Through its Global Connect control tower, XPO will coordinate Unilode’s global flows using critical path planning, with the stated aim of optimising stock positioning and reducing inventory levels without compromising availability. The control tower model is also designed to provide 24/7 coordination across time zones, supporting faster response to demand surges and accelerated asset repositioning to prevent airline network disruption.
“Our partnership with XPO Logistics highlights the power of collaboration at scale. By combining Unilode’s expertise in ULD management with XPO’s global logistics expertise and operational excellence, we are streamlining operations worldwide while making measurable progress toward reducing CO₂e emissions, supporting our carbon reduction ambitions, and adopting world-class technology to support our global network operations. XPO’s professionalism and consistency worldwide make them a trusted partner in delivering smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable solutions for our customers, suppliers, and partners,” said Janis Balkens, Chief Operations Officer.
XPO said it will provide critical path planning, real-time visibility across operational touchpoints, and IoT-enabled logistics for enhanced control and traceability, alongside dedicated global forwarding services supported by an aviation-focused team. For Unilode, which manages ULD pools and associated service networks, the ability to link asset tracking with forwarding execution is intended to reduce the lag between a demand signal and a physical repositioning decision.
“We’re delighted to be partnering with Unilode to help streamline its services. Global Forwarding is a core pillar of our business and a space where we truly excel. Combining this with our proven expertise in reducing CO₂e emissions, our proprietary technology that enhances visibility and efficiency across global operations, and Unilode’s shared ethos means this partnership has exceptional potential for continued growth,” said Christophe Verot, Senior Vice President, Forwarding – Europe, XPO Logistics.
The agreement reflects a wider trend in aviation logistics: moving from isolated asset management towards orchestration models that combine tracking, exception management, and forwarding under a single operational spine, with inventory reduction framed as an outcome of better coordination rather than a blunt cost-cutting exercise.
