Calgary International Airport has launched an international air cargo transhipment programme, under which the Canadian government can authorise any Canadian or foreign air carrier to use Calgary International Airport as a transhipment point for cargo coming from and going to destinationsoutside Canada.

In a statement, the airport said that the programme offers unprecedented fl exibility for both carriers and shippers to move goods through Calgary International Airport to third countries by air, road or rail, even if traffi c rights are not provided in Canada’sbilateral air transport agreements.

The statement added that the new cargo programme will mean that, for example, when Asiana Airlines fl ies in from Seoul, it can bring goods to Calgary to subsequently be given to FedEx for delivery in Miami. With the co-mingling of freight between carriers, cargo companies can now offer unparalleled fl exibility to their customers around the world when usingCalgary as a hub.

Stephan Poirier, vice president of business development for the Calgary Airport Authority, said: "The interaction between all modes of transportation and all air cargo carriers on a single platform at Calgary is very important. It will signifi cantly contribute to continue establishing Calgary as one of the most important air cargo hubs for Western North America."