The Russian all-cargo carrier has commenced twice-weekly flights to Singapore Changi Airport, deploying a Boeing 747 freighter each Thursday and Sunday. Adding Singapore to its network strengthens ABC’s presence in Far East further.
ABC’s global network keeps on growing with Singapore becoming the carrier’s ninth online station in Asia, following the launch of Hanoi flights last April. In a release ABC emphasizes that their
new Singapore services offer clients onward connections to Hong Kong and a multitude of other destinations within the airline’s global network.
Further growth in Asia on the agenda
Said Robert van de Weg, ABC’s Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing on the occasion of the launching flight last Thursday: “With the addition of this route, we are continuing our strategy
to provide customers with better access to point-to-point deliveries within ABC’s global route network, while providing them with on-time, reliable and high quality service levels. Singapore, via
ABC’s Moscow hub, will be directly connected to gateways like Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Milan without trucking.” The manager goes on to say that Asia is a vitally important market for the
line-haul arm of the Russian Volga-Dnepr Group’s subsidiary. “We look forward to further growth in this dynamic region,” Robert states.
Important milestone
While welcoming the first ABC freighter at his home turf, Robert Fond, Changi Airport Group’s Assistant VP for Cargo and Logistics Development speaks of a “significant milestone” for his airport
as ABC’s flights open up new cargo opportunities between Singapore and Russia. “Logistics players, who were previously limited by capacity constraints between Singapore and Russia, now have a
direct option to transport large freight shipments as well as general cargoes between the two countries. The enhanced air connectivity will foster further trade between both countries which is
already growing steadily,” stated Fond.
Mainly transits
Despite these warm words it can be expected that most of the goods uplifted by ABC at Changi are transiting Moscow Sheremetyevo airport and flown onwards to final consignees in Europe. This,
because Russia’s economy is contracting steadily due to international sanctions as reaction to Putin’s illegal Crimea annexation and the war in the eastern parts of the Ukraine heavily supported
by his administration and military.
The same accounts for shipments flown to Singapore by ABC since Russia’s industry produces only a very limited range of exports that meet global demand.
Heiner Siegmund / Michael Taweel
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