Bruce Barnard | Apr 07, 2011 11:08AM EDT
All-cargo carrier Nordic Global Airlines will begin operations with long haul MD-11 freighter flights from Europe later in the year.
The airline, launched last week by Miami-based private equity firm Neff Capital Management, will be based at Helsinki-Vantaa airport, the hub of Finnair Cargo, which has taken a minority stake in the carrier. Finnish insurer Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company has also acquired a minority stake in NGA.
Tentative routings for the new airline include Helsinki-Asia and Helsinki-North America.
"We believe that Helsinki is a natural base for a wide-body freighter operation, given its proximity to Asia and location among the growing economies of Europe," said Brian Neff, President of Neff Capital Management.
"We expect NGA to benefit from these natural advantages as it grows its fleet," Neff said.
Neff, the former president of Southern Air, founded Neff Capital Management in January 2010.
-- Contact Bruce Barnard at brucebarnard47@hotmail.com.