| Carriers - Royal Jordanian sees bright future for air cargo despite global downturn |
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Royal Jordanian handles 60 per cent of air freight exports from Jordan and 40 per cent of its imports," according to Muath Majali, the airline's vice president/cargo sales and services. According to Mr Majali, the carrier is developing its presence in the air cargo industry through the implementation of several strategies by increasing sales and improving services in terms of speed, reported MENAFN in the Jordan Times. Mr Majali said he was optimistic about the future, expecting growth of the airline and "significant improvement despite the challenges imposed by the political turmoil in the region and the global financial crisis that are still affecting the air cargo industry, as well as the constant rise in fuel prices and the intense competition between airlines," the report said. He highlighted that the carrier commenced a new air cargo route to Vienna, at the end of last year, operating one flight per week, to promote the products of Jordan in Austria and Eastern Europe. He said the airline aims to raise the frequency to two flights per week in May and to three weekly flights in November. The airline is also reported to be conducting feasibility studies to start cargo operations to Tripoli, Benghazi and Misrata in Libya and to Nairobi in Kenya, according to Mr Majali. He said the services would provide the capacity on its aircraft to serve Jordan's exports of fruit vegetables, medicine and other products. The carrier also aims to open a special warehouse in mid-February for courier companies operating at Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) airport. The new warehouse will be located inside the main warehouse, serving as a centre point for exchanging courier between these companies and their customers through the airline. The airline will provide handling services for the new warehouse, said Mr Majali. In return, courier companies will take care of customs procedures and deliver to their customers. The company also said it has concluded commercial agreements with "many regional and international parties to carry mail, including Syrian mail to and from stations that are not served by the Syrian airline, Iraqi mail from Baghdad and Erbil to other countries, and an agreement with the Palestinian postal corporation, as well as other agreements to transport mail from Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Thailand and India." Source: Shipping Gazette, Jan 26, 2012 |
