The 737-400 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) landed at Leipzig-Halle Airport yesterday at 2 pm, hailed by CEO Ulrich Ogiermann and top managers of the newcomer. The aircraft, which came directly from a paint shop in Florida, is the first freighter displaying the colors of the newcomer on its hull. However, in reality it is already CLG’s second aircraft.
Which might sound confusing at first sight is explained by the fact that an earlier delivered B737-400 freighter was transferred to Atran Airlines, CargoLogic Germany’s Russian affiliate right
after delivery. This aircraft will return to the German company once the requested Air Operator Certificate (AOC) is granted by the local authorities, allowing CLG to conduct commercial
flights.
“Constructive AOC dialogue”
Insiders believe that the AOC decision won’t take much longer since Mr Ogiermann confirmed to CargoForwarder Global that the new freighter will not be passed on to Atran but stay at its home base
LEJ for the time being.
At national regulator Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA) nobody was available for a comment on the AOC proceedings.
Despite the still missing permit, CLG Chief Ogiermann nevertheless spoke of a “constructive dialogue with the Federal Aviation Office in this regard.”
The manager went on to say: “All the measures required for this from both organizational and operational points of view are proceeding at full speed.”
Five B737 freighters in 2019
Further to this he said that the arrival of the B737-400BCF at its future home base “is an important milestone along our journey of launching flight operations here at Leipzig/Halle Airport
during next spring.”
By then the fleet should encompass four leased P2F converted B737s with a fifth unit following in the months after.
Currently, CargoLogic Germany is recruiting pilots, technicians, and ground operating personnel. “You are passionate about the sky, airplanes and excellent in your profession? We would
like to get to know you!”, reads an ad placed in a German aviation magazine.
Customers decide on CLG’s network
Mr Ogiermann confirmed to CargoForwarder Global that CargoLogic Germany will concentrate on transporting express freight on intra-European routes. Which ones this will be, he did not disclose.
“As a matter of fact, we don’t intend to serve big hubs like Amsterdam, Frankfurt or Paris, but intend to concentrate on less dense routes.” At the end, all depends on CLG’s customers. “We fly
where they want us to go.”
According to the manager, first customers have been contracted meanwhile, but he deferred from naming them. Instead he stated: “We are currently talking to many potential clients and are very
confident that we will have a good start of our operations once we are admitted the AOC.”
Final remark from Goetz Ahmelmann, CEO of Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG and Chairman of the board of MFAG members Leipzig/Halle and Dresden Airport: "We thoroughly welcome the fact that the new cargo airline, CargoLogic Germany, is planning to make Leipzig/Halle Airport its base and continue to wish the airline a great deal of success as it seeks to gain an operative permit."
Heiner Siegmund
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