newstodate.aero

Jul 02, 2021 (newstodate): Denmark's Aalborg Airport, in the north of the country's Jutland peninsula, is to seek a role in the air cargo industry.
   The airport has decided on a strategy for air cargo as a complement to continuous development of its passenger route network.
   -We will focus on the role of Aalborg and Aalborg Airport as a hub for traffic between Denmark of the North Atlantic region including Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands,says Niels Hemmingsen, Aalborg Airport CEO.
   -Developing the air cargo services will support the profitability and sustainability of passenger air traffic, which will remain our prime focus area. And a market survey conducted by external experts has proved that the region of northern Jutland has a strong demand for air cargo solutions aiming at the North Atlantic markets. Today, shipments are trucked from the region into other airports, but much cargo like e.g. perishables would benefit greatly from a direct uplift solution.
   -Especially Greenland is a target for us with the coming new airport infrastructure including an Atlantic airport at Nuuk by end of 2022. This would open up new opportunities for us, and we are to present our business case to airlines including Icelandair, Atlantic Airways and of course Air Greenland as well as to all other stakeholders in the air cargo industry.
   -We claim no expertise in this business but have proved the capability of cargo handling of even large aircraft such as Boeing 777F and Boeing 787, and have all pertinent GSE and infrastructure in place for the job.
   -We plan to start out with a "cargo light" model, providing cargo handling for passenger aircraft on existing routes to support profitability and pave the road for increased frequencies as well as introduction of new routes and operators.  
   -At a later stage, as experience grows and demand increases, handling of all-cargo and freighter aircraft will be introduced as well. But this is indeed a longer-term perspective.
   -We have set no specific targets for the initial phase, but we know from our market survey that the volume of airfreight between Denmark and the North Atlantic market runs into thousands of tonnes. We intend to seek our share in this business, says Mr Hemmingsen.