newstodate.aero
May 21, 2014 (newstodate): More than just a vision, work is progressing for launch of a new freighter service from Lakselv Banak Airport, in northernmost Norway.
Behind the project is the US cargo carrier Viking International Airlines planning for eventually basing up to five Boeing 747 aircraft at Banak Airport to offer flights to destinations in North America and Asia.
The first aircraft, an all-cargo aircraft, will arrive in Norway for certification already in June this year, with launch of services to Asian destinations slated for September 2014.
-The project contains two phases: Phase 1 entails operations with Boeing 747 freighters serving Norway's seafood exports, while Phase 2 entails the addition of operations with ex-Air China Boeing 747 combi aircraft capable of carrying 310 passengers as well as 60 tonnes of cargo on flights to Asia, Miami, Banak and Oslo, says Ragnvald Brobakken, Aeroconsult Norway, consultant to the project as well as professionally working together with John Kunkel - ex-Atlas Air Chief Pilot, and a driving force in the project.
-We are working with Norwegian seafood exporters and forwarders and thus secured of commitments to fill the aircraft out of Norway. It remains a challenge, of course, to secure a balanced operation, but adding the combi capacity to the network will generate also passenger revenues on flights between Norway and not least Miami contributing to the over-all performance of the services.
-The all-cargo aircraft are already flying and will soon land in Oslo for certification, while registration will probably not be Norwegian. The Combi aircraft are currently undergoing C-checks and will be added to the AOC at a later stage.
-To ease the operation in EU countries, Viking International Airlines has also set up a company in Finland.
-We have been working on this project for the last five years and are now close to revealing all details about this new venture at an event in Oslo Gardermoen Airport in June, with the date soon to be announced, says Mr Brobakken.
Behind the project is the US cargo carrier Viking International Airlines planning for eventually basing up to five Boeing 747 aircraft at Banak Airport to offer flights to destinations in North America and Asia.
The first aircraft, an all-cargo aircraft, will arrive in Norway for certification already in June this year, with launch of services to Asian destinations slated for September 2014.
-The project contains two phases: Phase 1 entails operations with Boeing 747 freighters serving Norway's seafood exports, while Phase 2 entails the addition of operations with ex-Air China Boeing 747 combi aircraft capable of carrying 310 passengers as well as 60 tonnes of cargo on flights to Asia, Miami, Banak and Oslo, says Ragnvald Brobakken, Aeroconsult Norway, consultant to the project as well as professionally working together with John Kunkel - ex-Atlas Air Chief Pilot, and a driving force in the project.
-We are working with Norwegian seafood exporters and forwarders and thus secured of commitments to fill the aircraft out of Norway. It remains a challenge, of course, to secure a balanced operation, but adding the combi capacity to the network will generate also passenger revenues on flights between Norway and not least Miami contributing to the over-all performance of the services.
-The all-cargo aircraft are already flying and will soon land in Oslo for certification, while registration will probably not be Norwegian. The Combi aircraft are currently undergoing C-checks and will be added to the AOC at a later stage.
-To ease the operation in EU countries, Viking International Airlines has also set up a company in Finland.
-We have been working on this project for the last five years and are now close to revealing all details about this new venture at an event in Oslo Gardermoen Airport in June, with the date soon to be announced, says Mr Brobakken.