newstodate.aero
Dec 17, 2009 (newstodate): Counting volumes, Singapore Airlines Cargo does not see any crisis in Scandinavia's airfreight industry.
-2009 has been turbulent, but our freighters out of Copenhagen are flying fully booked and have been doing so for quite a period, says Kim Irmov, Singapore Airlines Cargo regional manager Nordic and Baltic region.
-This goes for our four weekly Boeing 747-400 freighters to Singapore, but it applies equally to our latest addition since September 1, 2009 - the weekly US-bound freighter service to Chicago and Dallas. Chicago is invariably on top of the list of IATA export cargo destinations, but capacity to Dallas have proved to be very much in demand as well, which may be a bit surprising after all.
-While export airfreight volumes out of Scandinavia on our freighters have been very significant, rates have been less impressive due to a prolonged period of over-capacity in the market. This is of course the crux as Singapore Airlines Cargo is definitely very keen on securing profitable operations on all its routes.
-We have, therefore, as most other carriers, been adjusting our rates scheme as the markets builds up again, and in most cases the market has been positively responsive to this. It can, of course, constitute a problem for freight forwarders who have signed longer-term contracts with customers based on the rock-bottom rates that earlier prevailed. But after all, any business contains an element of risk that has to be managed by the players.
-Looking ahead, we would of course like to see traffic expanding further at our Scandinavian hub, with the addition of a second US flight, or a return to the earlier five weekly freighters to Singapore. But it all hinges on a sound development in the market and rates that can secure the profitable operation of each flight.
-Right now the challenge is to handle all the freight that is building up during the current Christmas peak, but that is certainly a positive stress, says Mr Irmov.
-2009 has been turbulent, but our freighters out of Copenhagen are flying fully booked and have been doing so for quite a period, says Kim Irmov, Singapore Airlines Cargo regional manager Nordic and Baltic region.
-This goes for our four weekly Boeing 747-400 freighters to Singapore, but it applies equally to our latest addition since September 1, 2009 - the weekly US-bound freighter service to Chicago and Dallas. Chicago is invariably on top of the list of IATA export cargo destinations, but capacity to Dallas have proved to be very much in demand as well, which may be a bit surprising after all.
-While export airfreight volumes out of Scandinavia on our freighters have been very significant, rates have been less impressive due to a prolonged period of over-capacity in the market. This is of course the crux as Singapore Airlines Cargo is definitely very keen on securing profitable operations on all its routes.
-We have, therefore, as most other carriers, been adjusting our rates scheme as the markets builds up again, and in most cases the market has been positively responsive to this. It can, of course, constitute a problem for freight forwarders who have signed longer-term contracts with customers based on the rock-bottom rates that earlier prevailed. But after all, any business contains an element of risk that has to be managed by the players.
-Looking ahead, we would of course like to see traffic expanding further at our Scandinavian hub, with the addition of a second US flight, or a return to the earlier five weekly freighters to Singapore. But it all hinges on a sound development in the market and rates that can secure the profitable operation of each flight.
-Right now the challenge is to handle all the freight that is building up during the current Christmas peak, but that is certainly a positive stress, says Mr Irmov.