newstodate.aero

Aug 19, 2022 (newstodate): Handling only 399 tonnes of cargo in H1/22, the Faroe Islands' Vagar Airport is looking into an entirely new future with the launch of the domestic cargo carrier FarCargo before the end of this year.
   Serving its primary owner Bakkafrost, FarCargo will start out already by October/November 2022 with plans for flights to carry seafood to the US market as well as to Israel, reportedly aiming at up to five weekly US-bound flights and one weekly operation to Israel.
   Among the many issues to be solved is handling of the seafood shipments from Bakkafrost's many production sites around the country.
   Bakkafrost is fully certified as Known Shipper and could build and deliver pallets of seafood shipments from its main terminal directly to airside for uplift in full compliance with safety and security regulations and requirements.
   -This would, however, complicate the situation as each individual Bakkafrost production site would be required to be equally fully certified. And if the freighter would also serve other exporters, they must live up to the same requirements, says Regin Jakobsen, Vagar Airport Managing Director.
   -Our suggestion is therefore to leave the handling of the export shipments to the airport, allowing for more operational flexibility.
   -If the airport will thus provide the handling, we would need to squeeze in the freighter operations among the airport's other commercial operations. Given the limited manpower available, this would require strict planning on our side to avoid congestion and conflict with passenger operations.
   -As an interim solution, cargo handling can be provided by utilizing unused spare capacity at our existing terminal, and we are now assessing costs and potentials. Further down the road, a new terminal might be needed as volumes increase.
   -More aircraft parking space will also be needed to separate freighter operations from passenger traffic. Today, the airport has five parking stands, but only three are actually available for larger aircraft, and looking ahead we would need one dedicated parking stand for the freighter operation.
   -As for GSE, the airport will need to add a Hi-loader which could probably be delivered only within some months, leaving little time for a decision to be made.
   -Our runway certified for CAT C-aircraft operations is today 1,799 m measured between thresholds. But preparations are underway to extend the declared distance to about 2,000 m by adding also turn pads and RESA, which will allow for operating CAT D-aircraft such as Boeing 757 and 767.
   -All in all, many issues must be solved - but first and foremost we are enthusiastically welcoming FarCargo at Vagar Airport, says Mr Jakobsen.