Robert Strödel, the former CEO of Dubai-based air freight carrier Liwa Air Cargo, has left the carrier with immediate effect following the decision by the group of private Arabian owners to sell their stakes in Liwa to an undisclosed investor.

Strödel said there were rumors that the new owners of Liwa Air, which was founded on August 1, 2006 and started operations in early November last year, might be a Pakistan-based firm which is eager to step into the Middle East cargo market.

As a result of the ownership change, all long term Liwa commitments and contracts have been halted, including an agreement with Finnair for scheduled flights between Moscow and St. Petersburg to Helsinki as feeder services for Finnair Cargo’s longhaul operations.