newstodate.aero
SEP 15, 2005 (newstodate): Despite expectations for growth, air cargo volumes at the North Atlantic Faroe Islands dropped by 10.5 percent during the first eight months of 2005.
Vagar Airport thus reports a total of 240.5 tonnes of air cargo during the period against 268.7 last year.
-The problem with air cargo on the Faroe Islands remains lack of cargo capacity, says Joel undir Leitinum, Samskip managing director.
-Maersk Air that pulled out in 2004 lifted three tonnes of air cargo per flight while Atlantic Airways that is now alone in serving the market takes only 0.5 tonne per flight if there is space available at all on the passenger aircraft.
-I remain convinced that there is an untapped potential for air cargo in this market, but given the severe operational restrictions at Vagar Airport due to its short and demanding runway, only small aircraft can operate. And unit costs of air cargo are too high on a small aircraft. When talking large-volume exports of fresh fish, a shipment of 10 tonnes has little relevance.
-There has always been a debate on whether airlines, shippers or forwarders should take the lead in developing air cargo at the Faroe Islands. But this "chicken & egg" discussion is still basically futile as long as the infrastructure is inadequate to facilitate cargo flights on an advanced level, he says.
Vagar Airport thus reports a total of 240.5 tonnes of air cargo during the period against 268.7 last year.
-The problem with air cargo on the Faroe Islands remains lack of cargo capacity, says Joel undir Leitinum, Samskip managing director.
-Maersk Air that pulled out in 2004 lifted three tonnes of air cargo per flight while Atlantic Airways that is now alone in serving the market takes only 0.5 tonne per flight if there is space available at all on the passenger aircraft.
-I remain convinced that there is an untapped potential for air cargo in this market, but given the severe operational restrictions at Vagar Airport due to its short and demanding runway, only small aircraft can operate. And unit costs of air cargo are too high on a small aircraft. When talking large-volume exports of fresh fish, a shipment of 10 tonnes has little relevance.
-There has always been a debate on whether airlines, shippers or forwarders should take the lead in developing air cargo at the Faroe Islands. But this "chicken & egg" discussion is still basically futile as long as the infrastructure is inadequate to facilitate cargo flights on an advanced level, he says.