China is fi rmly on the road map for Etihad Airways in 2008, according to the carrier’s new head of cargo, Des Vertannes, who was in the PRC in early September exploring links with Shenzhen Airlines, China Southern andShanghai Airlines. The carrier has been fl ying twice weekly to Shenzhen with its A300-600 freighter for the past 18 months, but Vertannes says that before expanding its freighter services to other Chinese destinations it would like to get thesupport of local … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST Supplement~ Etihad explores links with China carriers
MIDDLE EAST Supplement~ Sharjah continues to grow
The largest air cargo hub in the United Arab Emirates has a happy problem. Unprecedented cargo demand at Sharjah International Airport is stretchingcapacity to the maximum. With nearly 40,000 tonnes of cargo per month being handled at Sharjah’s fi ve cargo terminals the 15-20 per cent growth in annual cargo volumes along with surging passenger traffi c is taxing the airport’s capacity. Despite the fact the airport’s cargo facility can handled up to 10 wide-bodied freighters … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST Supplement~ Sharjah continues to grow
MIDDLE EAST Supplement~ Qatar Airways Cargo thinks out-of-the-box
A slightly different market focus than other cargo carriers is the engine behind the healthy growth of Qatar Airways Cargo, according to John Batten, GM of Qatar’s worldwide cargo operations. While many carriers rely on the traditional Far East to Europe, via the Middle East trade, Qatar Airways Cargo has opted to also tap this trade, but not at the expense of other regions with highgrowth potential. “Qatar Airways Cargo is looking for strategic growth in the Middle East, Africa … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST Supplement~ Qatar Airways Cargo thinks out-of-the-box
MIDDLE EAST Supplement~ Dnata looking at overseas opportunities
For the Middle East’s dominant air cargo terminal handler – Dnata Cargo – the dynamic growth of the region’s air cargo market has posed a happy challenge– keeping up with the demand. “The development of air cargo in the region in general and Dubai in particular, has been vast,” said Jean Pierre L. De Pauw, senior VP Dnata Cargo. “Most years double digit growth, some years even more than 30 per cent, we could have never predicted this kind … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST Supplement~ Dnata looking at overseas opportunities
MIDDLE EAST Supplement~ The hub everyone would have built…Â if they could
Speaking at the Air Freight Asia conference, Michael Proffi tt, CEO of Dubai Logistics City highlights the importance of having the right infrastructure to copewith air freight growth. “In the current environment, it is very diffi cult to see how there can be many bust scenarios,” he opened. “With expansion in China, India and the Middle East, the whole air freight industry is going through a period of growth. But the key question is do we have the right infrastructure to … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST Supplement~ The hub everyone would have built…Â if they could
HK Cargo volumes rise in Aug
Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) has reported that it handled 228,077 tonnes of air cargo in August, up 8.4 per cent compared with the same month a year ago. Hactl said the cumulative tonnage from January to August was 1.65 million tonnes, up 2.6 per cent year-on-year. Export volume in August registered an 8.8 per cent growth year-on-year, reaching 129,551 tonnes. Aggregate export volume for the fi rst eight months was 918,740 tonnes, up 2.3 per cent compared with the same … [Read more...] about HK Cargo volumes rise in Aug
