NewsWeek AirAsia X climbs the rankings


THE ANNUAL report pro- duced by Malaysia Airports of cargo movements out of Kuala Lumpur International airport (KLIA) during 2011 shows that carrier AirAsia X is now the second-largest mover of cargo out of the gateway. With a fleet of widebody


aircraft, the airline forms the long-haul arm of Kuala Lumpur-based low-cost carrier AirAsia, which itself was ranked as the fourth-biggest airline in terms of cargo lifted out of KLIA in 2011. Sathis Manoharen, regional


head of cargo at AirAsia, observed that the figures repre- sented a general improvement by AirAsia and AirAsia X


rather than reflecting the eco- nomic slump that is being suffered by so many other freight carriers. He commented: “Our


upward trajectory in growth has been motivated by the fact that a sizeable number of freight forwarders are shifting their loads to us due to our ser- vice offering and efficiency of delivery. In 2011, our Flown As Booked (FAB) average was 94 percent.” Manoharen pointed out:


“We are delighted and hugely encouraged... We have pretty much proven that a low-cost carrier can certainly give a run for their money to the legacy carriers in the cargo business.” He observed: “Although


the number one spot remains elusive to us for now, we are treating our improvement in terms of the pecking order with an appropriate sense of perspective.” Manoharen went on: “We always subscribed to the motto


Manoharen: “we have a team with radical notions”


that you have to learn the rules of the game and then you have to play better than anyone else. “We have a team with rad-


ical notions, who have debunked the myth that low- cost carriers are not able to provide cargo service.” He concluded: “We knew


it was possible. It was all about getting the different cogs working in the right order.”


ADAC forecasts ‘record year’


ABU DHABI International airport has revealed an 11 per- cent increase in its air freight throughput for the first three months of the year compared to the same period in 2011. According to airport opera-


tor Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), between the months of January and March, the airport handled a total of 29,123 flights. This prompted a significant


surge in traffic, with passenger numbers in March reaching nearly 1.2 million, an increase of 22 percent in comparison


with figures for the same month last year. Harib Al Hameli, ADAC


vice president operations, observed that the first quarter of this year had proven to be yet another successful period for the airport and, based on forward projections: “It looks set to be another record year for Abu Dhabi International


airport.” n Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways inaugurated four times a week A320 services to the southern Iraq city of Basra on 15 April.


ADAC welcomes a recent Czech Airlines inaugural flight from Prague Swissport and Virgin move closer


SWISSPORT International and Virgin Atlantic Airways have signed a five-year agree- ment to intensify their global cargo collaboration. According to John Batten,


executive vice president of global cargo at Swissport Inter- national: “This long-term global strategic relationship with regard to cargo handling will allow both parties to explore savings in overhead


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costs where Swissport could perform additional services with an overall target of improving financial conditions and quality standards.” Swissport handles online


cargo for Virgin at Cape Town, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Tokyo, as well as at 45 offline locations for imports in Europe and 24 offline export stations in France, Belgium, Poland and Scandinavia.


30 April 2012


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