Insufficient capacity in the market combined with last minute peak season surges resulted in an air cargo backlog that began in China and Hong Kong from early October and rapidly spread to other Asian airports including Shanghai, Beijing and Korea, leaving forwarders fighting for space on flights to Europe. An unprecedented backlog of 3,500 tonnes, or the equivalent of nearly 34 B747-400 freighters, at Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals (Hactl) at the end of November translated to delays of up to a … [Read more...] about HONG KONG: Tight capacity causes peak season jams

An unexpected surge during the traditional peak season has given the Hong Kong office of Air Charter Service reason to cheer in what it described as a “pleasant surprise” as freight volumes moving on charters dramatically increased since early October. Stephen Fernandez, cargo manager ACS Hong Kong, explains: “We started receiving enquiries in the middle of September, but it wasn’t until early October that they started booking the flights and the market really picked … [Read more...] about HONG KONG: Peak season bonus for charters

An Air China vice president has been named in a senior role at Shenzhen Airlines, fuelling speculation that it would take over the Shenzhen-based carrier to boost its foothold in south China where it’s relatively weak compared with competitors such as China Southern Airlines, Reuters reported. … [Read more...] about CHINA: Shenzhen Air appointment fuels talk of Air China takeover

Air China will inject MOP158.7 million ($19.3 million) into troubled subsidiary Air Macau, lifting its stake in the carrier to 80.9 per cent from 51 per cent. Air Macau fell victim to both the global financial crisis and liberalised cross strait flights between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland which dragged the carrier down to a MOP107.3 million loss in 2008 and a MOP150 million deficit through the first five months of 2009. Other stakeholders in Air Macau include TAP Portugal’s SEAP … [Read more...] about CHINA: Air China takes majority control of Air Macau

China Southern Airlines has boosted cargo capacity to Europe and North America with the introduction of two B777 jets to enhance its services on the European and United States routes, which include two new routes linking Shanghai with Frankfurt and Chicago. The carrier will introduce four more B777s by 2011 to raise its cargo fleet toeight, including two B747 freighters. Frankfurt is an important cargo destination as Germany’s exports to China account for 43 per cent of the … [Read more...] about CHINA: China Southern boosts capacity to US, Europe