newstodate.aero
Aug 11, 2011 (newstodate): The ad-hoc freighter market is not only just soft; it may even be almost non-existing for the moment.
At least this may be the case concerning small turboprop freighters.
As one example, the Danish ACMI and charter carrier Danish Air Transport, DAT has now brought one of two ATR-42 freighters back from Africa after failing to generate enough business in the ad-hoc freighter market even despite a ban on AN-26 operations that was expected to open a window of opportunity in Congo and Gabon.
The other ATR-42 freighter is still in Africa, serving DHL with flights in Cote d'Ivoire.
-At this moment business is indeed scarce, and the aircraft now back from Africa has been returned to our base at Albert, northern France, centrally positioned to serve the European market at short notice.
-After some development during January and February 2011, the European ad-hoc airfreight market came to an almost complete stand-still, notably due to the short-fall of demand in the automotive market that is traditionally driving this business, says Torben Ravnkilde, DAT VP Sales.
-There are, of course, inquiries and requests but were few and certainly not enough to accumulate decent flight hours. And certainly in sharp contract to the market only few years ago, says Mr Ravnkilde.
Besides the two ATR-42 full-freighter, DAT also operates one Boeing 737-300QC.
At least this may be the case concerning small turboprop freighters.
As one example, the Danish ACMI and charter carrier Danish Air Transport, DAT has now brought one of two ATR-42 freighters back from Africa after failing to generate enough business in the ad-hoc freighter market even despite a ban on AN-26 operations that was expected to open a window of opportunity in Congo and Gabon.
The other ATR-42 freighter is still in Africa, serving DHL with flights in Cote d'Ivoire.
-At this moment business is indeed scarce, and the aircraft now back from Africa has been returned to our base at Albert, northern France, centrally positioned to serve the European market at short notice.
-After some development during January and February 2011, the European ad-hoc airfreight market came to an almost complete stand-still, notably due to the short-fall of demand in the automotive market that is traditionally driving this business, says Torben Ravnkilde, DAT VP Sales.
-There are, of course, inquiries and requests but were few and certainly not enough to accumulate decent flight hours. And certainly in sharp contract to the market only few years ago, says Mr Ravnkilde.
Besides the two ATR-42 full-freighter, DAT also operates one Boeing 737-300QC.