John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) are seeing action among carriers that offer new Asian and Middle Eastern service to and fromthese two airports.
Yangtze River Express, which operates 747-200F aircraft three times weekly, began freighter service from Shanghai to JFK on March 8, 2007. Qatar, which began passenger operations into EWR in June 2006, operates four times weekly withA330s.
“Although their service is new, their cargo loads have been good,” reports Michael J. Bednarz, manager, Air Cargo Business Development, Aviation Department, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. China Eastern began operating three times weekly passenger fl ights with A340-600 aircraft into JFK in December 2006. This fl ight provides lower deck direct service to Shanghai.
Yangtze River Express is experiencing quick success at JFK. For the fi rst six months of 2007, it moved about 4,500tonnes in and out of JFK.
“Imports are strong, but a lot of their success is being propelled by a growing Shanghai market for US exports,” Bednarz points out. China will continue to drive the market and any new carriers that opt to serve the New York market will have an instant customer base.
“There was also the opportunity to offer direct freighter service to Shanghai, a market highly desired by the freight forwarders and shippers located in the Eastern half of the United States,” Bednarz adds. Yangtze River Express has a strong relationship with China Airlines, which operates its own facility at JFK.
Qatar’s choice of EWR was passenger driven, but the New York/New Jersey region is strong for Middle East traffi c. Although Qatar just began operations, its tonnage is solid. Through May 2007, US exports to Qatar have grown by some 70 percent versus the same time in 2006. This year, Middle East freight in general has increased 14 percent versus 2006.“We’ve seen strong resultsfrom carriers like Emiratesand Etihad and now Qataris following suit,” Bednarzsays.
Meanwhile, the increased number of direct international destinations from both airports continues to grow resulting in more choices for freight forwarders and shippers. This trend is expected to continue with India continuing to gain in terms of market importance and Russia and the Eurasian region showing more and more promise.
Other announcements are on the horizon. In fourth quarter 2007, Continental Airlines will service Mumbai from EWR; Cathay Pacifi c will add a third passenger fl ight. In second half 2007, Cathay Pacifi c increased from seven times 747-400 freighter weekly service to 10 times 747-400 freighter weekly. Jet Airways added service to Delhi from EWR; Delta Airlines, service to Delhi from JFK.
AirBridgeCargo is looking at Krasnoyarsk to JFK in early 2008. Amerijet is considering dedicated freighter service to either EWR or JFK; Silk Air Ways, freighter service from Azerbaijan to either EWR or JFK. – Karen E. Thuermer
