IN BRIEF, THE LATEST AIR FREIGHT INDUSTRY NEWS.
LH Cargo and German Red Cross cooperate
Peter Gerber, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board of Lufthansa Cargo has announced that the carrier and the German Red Cross have recently signed an agreement which is meant to put their
present cooperation on global transports on an even more efficient footing.
Gerber, along with Christian Reuter, Secretary General of the German Red Cross, signed a new framework agreement which will considerably simplify and speed up the preparation of aid flights into
future disaster areas. This, they state will gives a more effective support for supplies which are urgently needed in crisis situations and ensure a much faster delivery schedule.
Peter Gerber commented on signing: “Thanks to the new cooperation, we will be able to transport German Red Cross aid supplies even faster to disaster zones. When every minute counts, strong
partners who can work together optimally are needed.”
Leipzig hosts all three Antonov types
It’s something you won’t see very often!
The three largest freighters - all lined up together at the same airport.
This was the picture at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany a week or so ago,
The monstrous Antonov AN-225, ‘Mrija’ was pictured positioned not far from its smaller sisters the AN-124 and the AN-22 which is the world’s largest propeller-driven aircraft.
The six engined AN-225 had just completed a charter trip from Chile, whereas the AN-124 was one of those types permanently based at Leipzig.
The AN-22 which was first produced back in 1965 as a heavy military transporter has four contra-rotating propellers. A total of 68 aircraft were produced between 1965 and 1975.
Some of them are still used today mostly for humanitarian and some military services. It can carry up to 80 tons of cargo and has a maximum range of over 15,000 kilometers.
Egyptair Cargo to enter A320 freighter conversion program
Bassem Gohar, CEO of Egyptair Cargo has announced that the Cairo-based carrier has plans to add five freighters to their fleet.
Three will be Airbus A330-200s and two are Airbus A320-200s, all of which will be passenger to freighter (P2F) conversions.
The conversions according to Mr Gohar will be completed by the Dresden-based Elbe Flugzeug Werke (EFW).
The Egyptian carrier still has three aging A300 freighters on its books, but it is expected that these will be phased out with the introduction of the newer Airbus freighters.
Other Freighter News:
Another P2F conversion was announced by Sydney-headquartered Australian Freighters Australia, who are said to shortly take delivery of its first B737-400F which is presently
being converted by Aeronautical Engineers Inc (AEI).
Jordan’s national carrier, Royal Jordanian will receive an Airbus A330-200 freighter.
The aircraft which was originally operated by Malaysia’s MASkargo, ended operations on behalf of Turkish Airlines Cargo by the middle of this year.
Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM) received a further B767-300ER from American Airlines and will have it converted into a freighter by Israel’s Bedek Aviation Group. It is expected
that the converted freighter will then be leased to Amazon through ATSG for use on Amazon’s Prime Air services.
DHL Express has chartered an Airbus A330-200F from Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways for use on DHL’s Bahrain-Milan-Brussels route. The leased aircraft will replace the B767-200
presently being used on this route.
AMI UK handles its eight millionth shipment
The UK arm of Air Menzies International (AMI) has passed what they term as another milestone in their history by handling the company’s eighth millionth cargo shipment. AMI announced that
ironically, this shipment was destined for Australia - which was AMI’s first major export market 40 years ago.
Sharon Wright, AMI’s VP Europe and who has been with the company since day one stated that: “when AMI was first launched 40 years ago, nobody expected that we would one day be celebrating eight
million shipments.”
Hactl to handle new Sto Express flights
The Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd (Hactl) have won the contract to handle the new weekly B747-8F service for China’s Sto Express. The aircraft which will be operated on the route from Hong
Kong to Prague is being supplied by Silk Way Italia a joint venture company between Azerbaijan’s Silk Way Airlines and Italian investors.
It will however be painted in the Sao Express livery.
This is said to be the first regular freighter operation to Europe by any Chinese express carrier.
Alibaba knocking on Amazon’s door?
American Airlines gets better cargo volume on B787-9 aircraft
Towards the end of November American Airlines launched its first European flights with the Boeing 787-9 aircraft by using it on the Dallas - Madrid route.
This move gives the Dallas-based carrier more cargo volume across the Atlantic ocean. The B787-9 can carry a total of 36 LD3 containers or 12 pallets in the belly.
The carrier hopes to have four Dreamliners in use by the end of the year. DFW - Sao Paolo is already being served and flights to Paris and Seoul will start in January and February.
John Mc Donagh
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