newstodate.aero

Jun 11, 2020 (newstodate): With 37 large local and regional companies as members, Bodøregionens Utviklingsselskap is working hard to realize long-nourished plans for a seafood freighter service from Bodo Airport.
   Over the years, several attempts have been made, but now the remaining bits are falling into place, raising hopes to see the first freighter rotation from Bodo to China before the end of this year.
   -Bodo Airport is seeing cargo traffic by West Atlantic and postal operators, but so far our barrier has been lack of capability and pertinent certification to handling of large freighter aircraft like the Boeing 777 or Airbus A330, and lack of ground handling facilities, says Elnar Remi Holmen, Bodøregionens Utviklingsselskap Mng Dir.
   -Now, these challenges have been overcome; all investments have been approved, permits are in place, and we are now in the process of securing the remaining infrastructure and GSE in cooperation with Wideroe Ground Handling at Bodo Airport.
   -Bodøregionens Utviklingsselskap is owned by local and regional seafood-related producers, forwarders and exporters, boding well for a close dialogue and a high level of commitment to the freighter project from the start. As members, these companies are actually paying for the project which also generates loyalty for the project.
   -Our strategic goal is to establish a sustainable cargo service based on strong customer loyalty from large-scale producers in both the redfish and the whitefish segments.   
   -And the volumes are there: two of the large salmon producers closest to the airport turn out 200 and 100 tonnes of salmon, respectively, each day - not all to go by air, but also by truck or rail. But with development plans announced, volumes will grow even higher over the coming years as also documented by a feasibility study laying the groundwork for the project.
   -As said, we aim at one weekly freighter rotation from the start, established as a scheduled service from 2021 and growing in frequency as warranted by the market, says Mr Holmen.
   With a single concrete, 2,794x45 m runway, Bodo Airport is Category A, capable of handling large aircraft, excluding the Boeing 747, and closely connected to both road and rail transportation