Saudi-based private jet operator Aviation Horizons has chosen Airone Aviation Limited as its cargo sales agent to support its launch into the all-cargo market with regional 737 freighter services.

The new air cargo operator already took delivery of its first B737-400SF conversion, with two more expected to join in the next three months.

Air One expects demand for the 737-400, which has payload capacity of 18.5 tonnes with 11 ULD positions, to pick up, particularly for regular regional contracts in the Middle and Far East. Based in Sharjah, the aircraft will be ideal for high-volume, ecommerce trade lanes and available for both long-term contracts and ad hoc charters.

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This is not the second all-cargo GSA contract awarded to Airone Aviation in the past 10 months after it got exclusive sales and marketing rights to AeroTransCargo (ATC) Moldova.

It current offers short- and long-term charter solutions as well as ACMI programmes with ATC’s growing fleet, which now has six B747-400 privately owned freighters.

Airone chief Paul Bennett said, “Having been a client of Aviation Horizons’ private jet services, we are proud to have been awarded this opportunity to successfully launch the Aviation Horizon brand in the cargo market with its first newly-converted 737-400SF.

“This is a perfect aircraft for regional ecommerce and parcels operations and comes to the market at a time when demand for capacity in this sector has never been greater.”

Bennett added that the arrival of two other freighters will allow the company to have ‘back-up’ aircraft for high-frequency ecommerce flights and additional capacity to satisfy ad hoc charter demand.

The GSSA said it is discussing hub-spoke opportunities to connect Aviation Horizon’s regional 737-400 all-cargo operations with AeroTransCargo’s feeder services from Hong Kong and China to Europe.