12send express service gets the seal of approval from KLM and Schiphol

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and KLM Cargo have given their support to a new same-day intra-European air cargo service.
The same-day intra-European air cargo delivery is the responsibility of a start-up called 12send, of which Dutch company Parcel International is the majority stakeholder. KLM Cargo and Schiphol Cargo also contributed to the development and launch of the service.
12send makes use of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol’s baggage system and KLM’s European network, and both Schiphol Cargo and KLM Cargo have backed the service, following a successful trial in October on KLM services between Amsterdam and Barcelona-El Prat Airport in Spain.
Cargo shipped on 12send will be loaded at Schiphol and then flown to KLM destinations across Europe.
Dutch company Parcel International handles the first and last mile deliveries, moving the shipment to the end-customer by electric van or e-bike.
“Same-day delivery is soon to be a standard, and as Europe’s leading e-commerce hub, we have backed an innovative high-end service which is also CO2 responsible,” informed Jonas van Stekelenburg, head of cargo at Schiphol Cargo.
“Schiphol has a world-class baggage system which is fast, secure, and seamless, and working with KLM’s efficient network and Parcel International’s e-commerce expertise we are confident 12send will be a valuable enlargement of European air freight services, and meet the growing needs of our air freight partners.”
Marcel de Nooijer, executive vice president for KLM Cargo and managing director of Martinair Holland, said that the service sets a new standard in terms of cross-border delivery.
“With the belly capacity of KLM’s broad European passenger network we offer great solutions for all customers in the rapidly growing cross-border e-commerce market and the trend towards delivery within 24 hours.
“We are glad to develop this service together with Parcel International and Schiphol Airport and set a new standard in terms of cross-border same day delivery in Europe.”
Finally, Casper Plat, a partner at Parcel International, noted that customers ordering goods such as fast fashion and books want a same-day service but often have to wait for next day delivery via truck.
But: “Thanks to 12send, same-day delivery of e-commerce goods is now possible in the whole of Europe by harnessing otherwise unused cargo capacity of passenger planes,” he said.
"This means we can provide an "ordered before noon, delivered before 11pm" service all over the continent.
“The partnership between Schiphol, KLM, and Parcel International joins our strengths to the benefit of our customers, who are demanding shorter and shorter fulfilment times,” Plat added.
Parcel International aims to have 12send operational to 20 European cities in coming years.
Schiphol Airport is the third-largest air cargo hub in Europe, having handled 1.6 million tonnes of freight last year.
 The gateway has 525,000 sq m of cargo warehouses, of which 40% have direct airside access.