newstodate.aero
Dec 15, 2009 (newstodate): The Icelandic freighter carrier and ACMI provider Bluebird Cargo remains confident of its future regardless of the outcome of the decision by the Icelandair Group to put it up for potential sale.
Part of the Icelandair Group since 2005, Bluebird Cargo was set up in 2000 by a group of Icelandic investors and now operates a fleet of five Boeing 737 freighters while another two Boeing 737 freighters have been placed with China Postal Airlines on a 10-year dry-lease contract.
-We are doing quite well despite the generally depressed market, providing capacity for integrators and other customers including UPS, and also operating an own scheduled freighter services between Keflavik and Cologne, says Skuli Skulason, Bluebird Cargo managing director.
-Our owner has decided to focus on core businesses, and like the Czech company Travel Services we belong to the category of capacity providers that will now be placed under a special holding company with a future sale in view.
-This will basically not change our situation. We are in the business whoever our owner will be, and we are performing with a reasonable profit. We have no plans for expansion and have not made any investments that threaten our sustained existence.
-Of course the situation in Iceland's cargo business is rather demanding. Exports are doing reasonably well, having recovered after the deep recession, and we are seeing the seasonal peak right now, albeit at levels lower than last year.
-Imports are, however, much lower in volumes and slower in recovery due to the general economic situation in Iceland. But we remain optimistic about prospects for 2010, says Mr Skulason.
Part of the Icelandair Group since 2005, Bluebird Cargo was set up in 2000 by a group of Icelandic investors and now operates a fleet of five Boeing 737 freighters while another two Boeing 737 freighters have been placed with China Postal Airlines on a 10-year dry-lease contract.
-We are doing quite well despite the generally depressed market, providing capacity for integrators and other customers including UPS, and also operating an own scheduled freighter services between Keflavik and Cologne, says Skuli Skulason, Bluebird Cargo managing director.
-Our owner has decided to focus on core businesses, and like the Czech company Travel Services we belong to the category of capacity providers that will now be placed under a special holding company with a future sale in view.
-This will basically not change our situation. We are in the business whoever our owner will be, and we are performing with a reasonable profit. We have no plans for expansion and have not made any investments that threaten our sustained existence.
-Of course the situation in Iceland's cargo business is rather demanding. Exports are doing reasonably well, having recovered after the deep recession, and we are seeing the seasonal peak right now, albeit at levels lower than last year.
-Imports are, however, much lower in volumes and slower in recovery due to the general economic situation in Iceland. But we remain optimistic about prospects for 2010, says Mr Skulason.