Taking off again on St. George’s Day

Just 8 weeks after CFG received notification of CargoLogicAir’s apparent first step into liquidation, the Stansted-based freighter operator has taken to the air again – coincidentally, and perhaps fittingly for the UK’s only maindeck freighter operator, on England’s national day, 23APR20.

Earlier in the week, a recent CargoLogicAir Limited manager confirmed to CFG that the airline’s management was in close cooperation with the UK CAA to resume its operations, saying “I hope they will be successful as there is a large demand for full freighter solutions.” The UK CAA had, on request of the company, previously suspended the airline’s Operating License and Air Operator Certificate for a period of three months from 27FEB20, which would have placed the airline in hibernation until the end of MAY20.
At the time, it was the dramatic drop in demand from CargoLogicAir’s key Chinese market, that was a main reason for the suspension request, and yet it is precisely this market now that CargoLogicAir will again be servicing with two of its B747-400s, in a current environment that has seen cargo rates soar in response to tight capacity and the need for urgent supply solutions. Who would have forecast the current dramatic global situation back then?

AOC suspension lifted
On 22APR20, the UK CAA issued a statement reading: “CargoLogicAir, has had its operating license and air operator’s certificate suspension lifted in order for them to provide cargo flights using two Boeing 747 aircraft on contracts to provide medical supplies.”
Of its two aircraft G-CLAA and G-CLBA, both in Leipzig (LEJ), Germany, until now, the first made its way to Krasnoyarsk (KJA) today on its way reportedly to China, to bring back PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) to the UK. The first of a number of medical flights, though the company is planning on a permanent comeback, and is hoping to expand again in the future. A spokesperson told AirCargoNews recently “CLA’s leadership has managed not only to reinstate the organization as the airline and guarantee the employment opportunities in this turbulent time, but also to provide logistics support to the sourcing of the medical supplies to the UK when it is most needed. CLA’s new strategy encompasses the existing experience together with the new management and organizational model that should allow CLA to operate as a successful incumbent on the global market.”