Air Cargo News.

For more aircargo news, data and analysis, please go to: http://www.airguideonline.com/professional.htm Jun 19, 2006

Boeing

Boeing sells first 747-8 Intercontinental. Boeing has sold the first passenger version of the 747-8, according to information posted on its website late last week.The order has not been announced formally. It was recorded on May 30 and placed by an unidentified customer, which may or may not be an airline. Boeing also received orders for two 747-400Fs from an unidentified customer on May 31. The 747-8 was launched last November on the strength of firm orders for 18 747-8Fs from Cargolux and Nippon Cargo Airlines. Jun 12, 2006

Boeing, Nippon Cargo Airlines, General Electric

General Electric revealed that Nippon Cargo Airlines was the customer for two 747-400Fs. NCA selected the GE CF6-80C2 to power the aircraft, scheduled for delivery in 2008 and 2009. The deal is worth more than $80 million, GE said. NCA ordered the same powerplants for the two dash 400Fs it currently operates and the six it will take over the next two years. "NCA has increased its order to better respond to environmental concerns and business opportunities, such as the opening of the new runway at Haneda Airport and the extension of the existing runway at Narita Airport," GE said. Jun 13, 2006

Cargo Kings

Cargo Kings Fly High. Fuel costs and labor disputes have led to tremendous distress at passenger airlines in recent years, but the cargo carriers never seem to complain. Not that they necessarily should. Consider that FedEx and United Parcel Service have racked up profits of $22 billion during the past five years, compared with the passenger-airline industry's losses of $35 billion over the same period. Make no mistake, FedEx and UPS are both in the airline business. UPS likes to say it operates the "ninth-largest airline in the world," with 268 jet aircraft. FedEx has a fleet of 384 jets, which would make it the seventh-largest in that regard. In recent years, package shippers have proven far more capable of benefiting from their assets than passenger carriers. Perhaps the biggest difference in operating environments was demonstrated last week when UPS raised its air-delivery fuel surcharge to 16% from 12.5%. In fact, the company adjusts its fuel surcharge monthly, and FedEx has a similar program. Market dominance gives the two carriers the ability to pass on cost increases. Jun 15, 2006

China Airlines

China Airlines will launch a twice-weekly cargo service between Taipei and Osaka on July 4 with a 747-400ERF. Jun 13, 2006

Emirates SkyCargo 

Emirates SkyCargo recently undertook the special delivery of 255 wild animals from their grazing grounds at a Namibian game park to a second home in Kano, Nigeria. The delivery of the animals, commissioned by the Honorable High Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Bauchi State Government, Nigeria on behalf of the Sumu Game Reserve, were purchased from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism in Namibia. The wild animals were transported from Windhoek to Kano, Nigeria by an Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 747-400F freighter charter. Jun 12, 2006

Eva Air, Shanghai Airlines

Eva Air to buy Shanghai Airlines' cargo. Taiwan's Eva Airways plans to take a 25 per cent stake in the cargo unit of Shanghai Airlines (SAL) to expand SAL's international cargo freight, Eva said on Tuesday. Eva's board has approved the stake purchase, worth 3.88 million US dollars, and has applied to Taiwan's Economics Ministry for approval. Taiwan bans direct trade with China but allows government-approved indirect trade with China. After the stake purchase is approved by Taiwan, Eva and the SAL will each hold a 25 per cent stake in SAL's air cargo unit - SAL Air Cargo. SAL Air Cargo operates cargo flights to 48 Chinese cities and several foreign countries, but plans to launch a global air freight network and will soon open cargo routes to India and the US west coast, Eva said in a statement. Jun 13, 2006

Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals

Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd. issued a statement Sunday protesting Cathay Pacific's acquisition of Dragonair and application for a self-handling air cargo facility at Hong Kong International, saying the combination would "create a dominant, vertically integrated air cargo operation" that would "negatively impact airlines, cargo terminal operators, freight forwarders and other participants in one of Hong Kong's key business sectors." HACTL said CX and Dragonair account for 40% of cargo volume at HKG and that a "process of full and open consultation with all stakeholders" should occur before the airport authority makes any further decisions regarding cargo capacity. Jun 13, 2006

Lufthansa Cargo

Lufthansa Cargo will take over sales and marketing of Air Madrid's freight capacity and handling effective Sept. 1. The agreement calls for LHC to open five new handling stations in Latin America. Jun 15, 2006