Martinair Cargo returned to San Jose, Costa Rica effective 7 May after temporarily suspending service since November 2008. On-going analysis and refinement of the network revealed an opportunity to once again be established in Central America’s most vibrant market Costa Rica, said the carrier. The flight will be operated by Martinair’s MD-11 freighter aircraft routed from AMS via MIA to SJO then to Latin America and back to Europe. Initially Martinair plans to operate … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Martinair returns to Costa Rica

The Air France-KLM group reported this week its biggest loss since the merger of the two carriers in 2004 with a loss of of €1.56 billion for the full-year ended 31 March, up from a loss of €814 million a year earlier. Revenue fell 15 per cent year-on-year to €21 billion. The group’s finances were starting to improve at the end of 2009 on signs of an upswing in traffic, but earnings have been pulled down since April due to the impact of ash clouds from an … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: AF-KLM sinks deeper into red

Europe’s largest all-cargo airline, Cargolux Airlines International has announced the introduction of a third weekly frequency to Komatsu, Japan starting on 13 May 2010. Cargolux said it was putting the additional capacity on the route due to “growing customer demand and limited freighter services to Japan.” The Cargolux B747-400 freighters to Komatsu are carrying mostly cars, machinery, spare parts as well as cheese and chocolates, while from Japan the cargo comprises … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Cargolux boosts Japanese and Korean services

The latest aircraft is a new conversion leased from Boeing Capital, and being delivered by SASCO (ST Aviation Services Company Pte. Ltd) of Singapore. It has a larger (90 tonne) payload than the airline’s first two MD11 aircraft, with the same range (3910 NM, 7241 km) and volume (478 cu m). The new aircraft also features a forward cargo door, making loading easier. The aircraft will enter service in July, and is expected to operate a programme of charter flights. It will … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Third freighter for Cargoitalia due in June

British Airways World Cargo (BAWC) has reported commercial revenue (flown revenue plus fuel surcharges) of £550.3 million (US$790 million) for the full year beginning April 2009. This represents a decrease of 18.2 per cent against the same period last year. Excluding the impact of favourable exchange rate movements, commercial revenues were down 26.1 per cent. Volumes of 4.5 million cargo tonne kilometres (CTKs) for the full year represent a decrease of 2.2 per cent versus the previous 12 … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: BAWC gets 4Q boost and full-year profit