SHORT SHOTS

AirBridgeCargo increases Munich frequencies
The Moscow-based cargo carrier, AirBridgeCargo Airlines announced last week that they will add a third weekly frequency from Munich to Asian destinations via their main hub in Moscow.
The third weekly operation has been introduced in order to capture more of South Germany’s booming export traffic as well as giving exporters from the Far East added capacity for imports into the Munich area. ABC aims to increasingly target the booming automotive export business from Southern Germany and states that so far this year they have uplifted more than 1,000 tons of car parts and other industrial goods on their present twice weekly operations. The carrier is offering its customers a 48-hour cargo delivery time from Munich to a total of 12 destinations in 6 Asian countries. Munich is one of ABC’s eleven cargo destinations in Europe and operates a fleet of 18 Boeing 747 freighters on global routes.

 

New Dutch coalition wants larger role for Maastricht Airport cargo business
In a motion to the Tweede Kamer (parliament) the four parties on the brink of forming a new Dutch government have asked for a larger role of MAA for the further development of the Dutch air cargo business. According to the trade paper Nieuwsblad Transport the proposal made by Christian Democrat MP Martijn van Helvert was not only supported by the four partners (CDA (Christian democrat), VVD (liberal, D66 (left-liberal) and ChristenUnie (conservative), but also by the socialist opposition party PVDA. The proposal stipulates to offer extra capacity for non-mainport-related cargo flights at MAA.
The coalition parties also insist that both the caretaker and the new government optimise the allocation of non-used slots, together with the authorities involved.

 

Cargolux gives valuable horses a smooth ride
The Luxembourg-based all cargo carrier, Cargolux, offers a smooth service for high breed bloodstock and recently flew a shipment of very valuable horses from Luxembourg to the Turkmenistan city of Ashgabat. The carrier operated in close cooperation with Peden Bloodstock, a company which is specialised in horse transportation.
The horses and their riders took part in the Equestrian Jumping competition in Ashgabat which was part of this year’s Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, attended by over 6,000 athletes and 65 teams. CV flew the highbred horses back to Luxembourg after completion of the games. Cargolux has a supply of HMC state-of-the-art horse stalls which are stored at Luxair’s cargo handling facility and which offer horses added comfort and safety on their journey.

Air Djibouti said to be looking at acquiring freighters
Djibouti-headquartered national carrier Air Djibouti is said to be looking at fleet expansion in order to prepare for further growth in the region. The carrier started services in the second half of 2015 with an aging Fokker F27 passenger aircraft which was on charter from Nairobi-based Astral Aviation. It presently operates a single leased BAe 146-300 on passenger routes. At one time they also operated a B737-400 passenger version (see photo).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The carrier is now looking at buying their own aircraft for both cargo and passenger operations. It is expected that they will purchase a Boeing 737 freighter for regional cargo operations. However, before this can be achieved, the cargo facilities at Djibouti Airport will have to be updated. The Djibouti government also operates a B767-200 ER aircraft as a VIP transport. This is presently undergoing maintenance at Cardiff Aviation in the UK.

 

Virgin & Delta Cargo open Pharma Zone at LHR
Virgin Atlantic Cargo and Delta Airlines Cargo recently started a cargo joint venture between the United Kingdom and the United States. They have now announced that a dedicated Pharma Zone has been set up at their joint cargo handling facility at London’s Heathrow Airport. This facility has been added in order that both carriers can offer better handling for the booming business with temperature-controlled and healthcare products which are being moved by both airlines between the U.K .and the U.S.
The facility which opened on October 2nd is a fully segregated area just for the handling and storage of pharma products. There are two so called “walk-in pods” which can be temperature controlled for COL between 2-8 degrees Celsius and for CRT between 15-25 degrees Celsius. There is also an above floor storage area which can hold up to 24 pallets in six separate chambers.
Virgin and Delta Cargo claim that together they now offer around 24% of the total air cargo capacity between the U.K. and the United States.

A300 freighter for Global Aviation
Tripoli, Libya based airline Global Aviation which is part of the privately owned Global Aviation and Service Group (GASG) and which was first set up in 2003, has announced that they will wet-lease an Airbus A300C4 freighter from Air Stork which has its base in Chisinau, Moldavia. It is said that the aircraft has already been repainted in Global Aviation colors, ready for delivery in Tripoli. The carrier presently utilises two aging Ilyushin IL-76 aircraft on Tripoli to Benghazi domestic services as well as for charter work to the UAE, Turkey, Bangladesh and India.

New Dutch coalition wants larger role for Maastricht Airport for cargo business
In a motion to the Tweede Kamer (parliament) the four parties on the brink of forming a new Dutch government have asked for a larger role of MAA for the further development of the Dutch air cargo business. According to the trade paper Nieuwsblad Transport the proposal made by Christian Democrat MP Martijn van Helvert was not only supported by the four partners (CDA (Christian democrat), VVD (liberal, D66 (left-liberal) and ChristenUnie (conservative), but also by the socialist opposition  party PVDA. The proposal stipulates to offer extra capacity for non-mainport-related cargo flights at MAA.
The coalition parties also insist that both the caretaker and the new government optimise the allocation of non-used slots, together with the authorities involved.
Marcel Schoeters in Brussels

FLEET NEWS
Suparna Airlines, the former Yangtze River Express, has added a fourth B747-400F to their fleet. The aircraft which was once flying for Belgium’s ASL Airlines is leased to Suparna by Aircastle Leasing.
Air Hong Kong is said to have leased in a B767-300F from U.S.-based Atlas  Air. The aircraft is rumoured as being operated by Atlas Air daughter company, Polar Air for AHK.
QR Cargo took delivery of its 13th Boeing Triple Seven freighter. This ups the Doha-based carrier’s freighter fleet to a total of 22 units, comprising eight Airbus A330Fs, 13 Boeing 777Fs and a single Boeing 747-8F.
Alaska Airlines put their first converted B737NG freighter into service. The aircraft is a converted B737-700BDSF and will be used on Alaska’s freight route between Seattle and Anchorage. This is the first B737NG aircraft which has been converted to a freighter. The aircraft also has a new loading system on-board which was developed by Ancra in cooperation with Bedek Aviation which did the conversion.

John Mc Donagh  /  Marcel Schoeters