CEVA Almajdouie’s Milestone Aircraft Move

By CEVA Almajdouie Logistics

From Issue 1, 2025 of Breakbulk Magazine.

(3-minute read)

CEVA Almajdouie Logistics carried out a milestone project involving the transportation of three Boeing 777 fuselages, six aircraft wings, and accessories from Jeddah to Riyadh. This impressive 1,250-kilometer journey took 14 days to complete, including loading and offloading the cargo.

The scale and complexity of the project showcases CEVA Almajdouie Logistics’ capabilities to manage complex out-of-gauge cargo logistics. The retired aircraft, once used for commercial transport in Saudi Arabia, are to be repurposed as a historic attraction as the Boulevard Runway for dining, entertainment and family-friendly activities at Riyadh Season 2024.

Transporting aircraft by road is common practice, however moving three, 120-ton fuselages simultaneously is rare, posing unique logistical challenges. Ensuring safe transport required meticulous logistics engineering to balance the weight distribution and prevent damage to roads and the cargo.

Months of planning preceded the transport project, with CEVA Almajdouie Logistics conducting comprehensive route surveys to identify the safest and most efficient route to minimize disruptions to local traffic and avoid major highways.

The route selected for the journey consisted of less-traveled roads with small-town connections, which considerably reduced the challenges associated with main highway travel, such as bridges, overhead signs, electrical wires and cameras.

The decision to travel this particular path resulted in significant cost savings, including expenses associated with shutting down power lines and making highway modifications. Furthermore, using this route enabled CEVA Almajdouie Logistics to consolidate the three fuselages into a single convoy, saving further on operational costs and transit time.

CEVA Almajdouie Logistics coordinated with local authorities, including the Ministry of Transportation and Saudi Electric, to ensure safe navigation of overhead power lines, narrow roads and highly populated areas.

Temporary electric shutdowns were limited to a maximum of 30, requiring precise logistical planning and effective collaboration with local entities. These relationships were instrumental in ensuring the timely and safe execution of the project.

Due to the size of the convoy, traveling against traffic in certain areas was unavoidable. With safety as a priority, the CEVA Almajdouie Logistics team coordinated with local authorities to manage these challenging segments, often traveling during low-traffic hours to avoid congestion. This flexible scheduling allowed the convoy to progress safely through urban zones without causing significant disturbances to local communities.

Another challenge in the project was fuel for the prime movers. Due to the convoy’s size, standard fuel stations were too small. Working together with Aldrees Petroleum & Transport Services Company, fuel deliveries were carefully calculated and executed, delivering fuel directly to the vehicles along the transport route. Additionally, the prime movers were equipped with extended fuel tanks, reducing the number of refueling stops.

To ensure proper weight distribution and road safety, the CEVA Almajdouie Logistics team used 78 axle lines of specialized hydraulic trailers and 6x6 prime movers for the aircraft main bodies and 15 special extendable lowbed for transporting the aircraft wings.

The trailers’ configurations were meticulously calculated by engineers to protect the road infrastructure, distributing the aircrafts’ weight evenly across multiple axles. Most of the assets used for this project are in-house owned.

Local Community Gets Onboard

The project was a great success, without any safety incidents or damage – a testament to CEVA Almajdouie Logistics’ expertise in managing complex, heavy-lift cargo operations. By transporting all three aircraft components in a single convoy, transit time was reduced and expenses reduced.

Community engagement played a key role throughout the duration of the project. During the 14-day journey, local communities demonstrated their support and curiosity, offering food and beverages to those involved. The convoy’s progress was carefully documented, and its warm reception underscores the collaborative spirit within the Kingdom and added a human touch to an otherwise technical project.

The success of this complex transport project provided valuable insights for future projects of similar scale. By opting for alternative transport routes and consolidating cargo into a single convoy, the CEVA Almajdouie Logistics team maximized efficiency and minimized costs.

Additionally, coordination with local stakeholders and authorities proved essential, with their cooperation ensuring smooth power line shutdowns and traffic management. Moreover, the project confirmed the value of leveraging additional fuel tanks on prime movers to maximize transport flexibility and decrease refueling stops.

This project has set a new benchmark for large-scale transport operations within Saudi Arabia. The successful delivery of three Boeing 777 fuselages over 1,250 kilometers demonstrates CEVA Almajdouie Logistics’ ability to handle even the most complex logistical challenges. The project’s success solidifies CEVA Almajdouie Logistics’ reputation as a leader in project logistics and opens the door to more ambitious projects in the future.

Read more: CEVA Almajdouie’s CEO Bassel El Dabbagh Shares Insight Into New JV

CEVA Almajdouie Logistics will be exhibiting at Breakbulk Middle East 2025.