Air cargo was right to have strong expectations of future growth, according to Dr Gene Huang, chief economist of FedEx, who predicted it would continue to grow in line with trade growth, that is two to three times as fast as worldGDP growth. The economist, who was ranked the second most accurate forecaster by the Wall Street Journal last year, said a combination of increased access to goods and also information was producing“explosive” growth in economic … [Read more...] about EUROPE: Economist paints rosy cargo picture
Air Freight Asia
EUROPE: Congress doubts ¡®known shipper¡¯ programme
The air cargo industry needs to come up with a credible security regime if it is to avoid more stringent screening legislation from the US Congress, Rob Bonner, the former commissioner of US Customs warned the TIACA Executive Conference in Cologne in mid-March. Bonner, held his post from 10 September 2001 until 2005, and was responsible for putting in place advanced cargo manifesting, the C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership against Terrorism) programme which now has some 8,000 companies as … [Read more...] about EUROPE: Congress doubts ¡®known shipper¡¯ programme
RUSSIA:ABC expands domestic network
AirBridge Cargo (ABC) has announced the launch of regular freight services to Khabarovsk with Boeing 747-200F. Director of domestic air service of AirBridge Cargo, Anton Khodakovsky says: “AirBridge Cargo regards domestic airfreight service as a promising line of activity continuing to expand the route network in the Russian Federation. Thus, the new route will allow us to provide our clients with fast and safe delivery of both domestic and customs cargoes to Khabarovsk and key Far … [Read more...] about RUSSIA:ABC expands domestic network
MIDDLE EAST: Kuwait Airways to order EUROPE jets by June
Kuwait Airways said it hopes to conclude negotiations with planemakers Airbus and Boeing for an order by the end of May as it seeks to spend up to $6 billion to renew its ageing fl eet, Gulf News reported. “We are looking at several... planes, among them the Boeing 777 and 787 and the A350 and A340 at Airbus,” Chairman Shaikh Talal Mubarak AlSabah was quoted as saying. The carrier, which plans to fly more fl ights to existing destinations as well as new routes such as Canada, … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Kuwait Airways to order EUROPE jets by June
MIDDLE EAST: Etihad to boost India flights
Etihad is looking to double its fl ights to Mumbai and New Delhi, and has singled out Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad as potential new destinations as India moves up the agenda in the airline’s expansion plans, Arabian- Business.com reported. The Mumbai and New Delhi routes are already two of the airline’s most successful, at 80 percent capacity, compared to the carrier’s overall average of 67 percent, according to Gulf News. Extra New Delhi fl ights are set to begin … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Etihad to boost India flights
MIDDLE EAST: Gulf Air to restructure network
Gulf Air, which is owned by the governments of Bahrain and Oman, has announced plans to restructure it network to improve connections to all centres in the Gulf and the Middle East region. As a consequence, Gulf Air will stop operating to Jakarta and fi ve other heavy-loss-making long haul routes effectiveJuly 1. Gulf Air president and chief executive André Dosé said the airline, which is currently making heavy operational losses, had looked at ways in which the fl eet and resources can be … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Gulf Air to restructure network