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The Information's Wayne Ma today shared an overview of the "unorthodox and costly steps" that Apple has taken to avoid product shipping delays amid the pandemic, including the increased use of container ships, private jet charters, and more.

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The report claims that Apple began shipping some AirPods by sea for the first time last year:
For example, last year Apple began shipping some AirPods by sea for the first time. In the third quarter of last year, the company greatly increased ocean freight for older model iPhones, whose delivery is less time sensitive, to free up air cargo space for the new iPhone 12, according to an analysis of vessel manifest data and the person with direct knowledge of Apple's logistics operations.
Apple has occasionally faced some issues with shipping products by sea rather than air. In late November, for example, the report claims that a large container ship headed from China to California tipped over, spilling around 1,800 of its containers into the ocean, and at least one of those containers was holding Beats headphones.

Apple also chartered more than 200 private jets to ship devices in 2020, a single-year record for the company, according to the report:
Apple frequently turned to pricier private jet charters to ship its products out of Asia because its delivery partners had run out of capacity in the cargo holds of passenger planes. Last year, Apple chartered more than 200 planes for these shipments, setting a single-year record for the company, according to the person with direct knowledge of its logistics operations. To put that in perspective, ahead of the launch of the iPhone 7 in 2016, Apple chartered just three planes for the devices after it used up passenger plane capacity, a different person involved in its shipments said.
To further speed up deliveries, the report claims that Apple has accelerated a plan to use its retail stores across the United States and Canada as "small distribution centers," allowing Apple's courier partners like FedEx and UPS to collect products from an Apple retail store and deliver them to customers within close proximity of the store. The plan was first reported by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman in October.

All in all, most Apple products took only a few days longer than average to be delivered in 2020, according to a source cited in the report.

Article Link: Apple Has Increased Use of Cargo Ships and Private Jets to Minimize Shipping Delays Amid Pandemic
 
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benweiner

macrumors newbie
Nov 18, 2014
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Private jets? What a waste of money and toll on environment. Those planes are fairly small and can't hold that much so totally unnecessary.
The reason private jets are a toll on the environment is their environmental impact vs. value held. Private jets as we think of them normally contain 1-5 rich people in a similar fuel (and therefore carbon) cost to a small jet which an airline packs many more people into (25-50 depending on size). These planes are likely full, which while overall adding carbon , which I agree isn't good, is a fairly efficient use of that carbon, especially when compared to flying rich people around.
 

somnolentsurfer

macrumors regular
Dec 28, 2008
180
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They normally ship in the holds of passenger planes? I guess I'm naive, but I always assumed the holds passenger planes were filled with passenger's luggage, and commercial goods for import went on container ships or dedicated cargo planes!
 

28Gauge

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Sep 4, 2011
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Small? FedEx has a fleet of huge private jets for cargo and here's AirBus's Beluga private cargo jet.

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(Edit: Oops - - I see I was beaten to the puch twice already.)
FedEx does plenty of charter work carrying everything from boxes, cars, pandas, horses, etc.
 
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ian87w

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Feb 22, 2020
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Wouldn't it be better for the environment if Apple actually made some of this gear here in the US, rather than shipping it halfway around the world?
The components would probably have to be shipped one way or the other, so either Apple shipped the components to the US (creating more shipments potentially), or pre-assembled them over there in china and just ship the finished products. Since most of the components makers themselves are in China/Asia, having everything assembled over there might take up less carbon total.
 

bergert

macrumors 6502
Jun 24, 2008
275
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Private jets? What a waste of money and toll on environment. Those planes are fairly small and can't hold that much so totally unnecessary.
When I calculate the fuel consumption, flying distances over 500mi consumes less than driving by car. Even when I divide the liters in half (wife and myself), flying is BETTER for the environment - comes out on top of driving.

Certainly, the are renting cargo planes (Boeing 737 MAX-8); not strapping boxes to the seat.
 
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