Volume 15, Issue 18


THE WE EKLY NEWS PAP ER FOR THE AIR CARGO PROF E S S IONAL


Qatar sets out its latest plans for growth 3


United : changing


times offer a challenge


7


DOHA-BASED Qatar Airways has revealed its latest round of network expansion covering the next six months, with the confirmed launch dates of new routes to destinations in Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe. CEO Akbar Al Baker announced


late last month (April) that the carrier will inaugurate scheduled services to


Africa –


continent full of


change 11


GSSAs see tricky


outlook ahead


Iraq – flying initially to Erbil on 23 May and then to Baghdad on 7 June. Both routes will be flown at a non- stop four times a week frequency. On 25 July, Qatar Airways will


begin flying to Kilimanjaro in Tanza- nia via Nairobi on a daily frequency. Then, on 15 August, the airline will open up its third new African


connection of this year – daily services to Mombasa via Dar es Salaam (Qatar inaugurated flights to Kigali in March). Flights to Zanzibar in Tanza- nia are also planned. Beyond Africa, 3 July will see the


first Qatar Airways flights to Perth in Australia. Initially operating at a three times a week frequency, the intention is to move to daily in December at the peak of the holiday season. In Asia, the carrier is to resume


flights to Burma (Myanmar) follow- ing a four-year break. Yangon will be served from 3 October. Finally, in Europe, having already


started operations this year to Baku and Tbilisi, on 9 May it will launch services to Zagreb via Budapest. Other new links are expected to be inaugu- rated to Belgrade and Helsinki. Together with a number of addi-


tional frequencies on both regional and long-haul services out of Qatar,


REPORTINGits first-quarter finan- cial results, TNT Express noted “mixed economic conditions in Eu- rope and slowing Asia - Europe trad- ing volumes”. As a result, it revealed “subdued European performance”, though it added that its Asia Pacific and Brazilian business had improved.


TNT talks of ‘subdued performance’ in core European logistics market TNT made 1.82 billion euros


(US$2.4 billion) in revenues over the three months, up by 1.3 percent over the same three months of 2011. Operating income of 37 million


euros ($48.6 million) was well down on the equivalent figure for the first quarter of 2011.


Marie-Christine Lombard, TNT


CEO, said: “The first quarter of 2012 has been challenging, given the on- going sluggish business environment.” For the rest of the year, the com-


pany said it expects continuing chal- lenges in Europe and lower express traffic between Asia and Europe.


13


Singapore logistics


providers fight on


the carrier noted that it will “continue to facilitate passenger and cargo traffic to all parts of the world, offering con- venient connections across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America”. Al Baker noted: “We are entering new markets and strengthening our


presence in established markets to provide a greater footprint. “This year alone will see Qatar Air-


ways take delivery of one new aircraft every 15 days, so there are plenty of opportunities to look at introducing them into service on both new and well-established routes,” he added.


Precision gets the nod on further PCFs


PRECISIONConversions of Oregon in the US has confirmed that Shenzhen-based SF Airlines has placed an order for a num- ber of further B757-200PCFs (Precision Converted Freighters). The deal was struck after a competi-


tive tender, although the exact number of units ordered is not being announced. It is understood, however, that SF Airlines has some big plans in terms of future fleet expansion. SF Airlines already operates B757-


200PCFs converted by Precision and the two have worked together since 2009. The latest aircraft ordered are expected to be modified at the Taikoo Aircraft Engi- neering Co (TAECO) facility in Xiamen, China. Steve Thomas, president of Precision Conversions, said the deal with


Thomas: Precision is an “integral part” of the SF Airlines strategy


SF Airlines points to the fact that his company continues to be an “inte- gral part of the carrier’s expansion efforts”. Precision Conversions has until now redelivered a total of 33 B757-


200PCFs that are currently operating in Europe, the Americas, India, China and Africa.


WORLD NEWS P3, 4 & 6 ● PEOPLE P4 ● TRADEFINDER P15


7 May 2012


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