Bruce Barnard | Sep 16, 2010 8:32AM EDT
Panalpina is expanding its dedicated air cargo operation with a leased 747-400 freighter the global forwarder will use to launch trans-Pacific services connecting the company’s European and North American hubs to Hong Kong and Dubai.
The service will include direct flights between Hong Kong and Panalpina’s large operation in Huntsville, Ala., and a connection to the forwarder’s longstanding “Dixie Jet” trans-Atlantic flight between the U.S. manufacturing center and Luxembourg.
The service expands the scheduled, wholly controlled flight operations Panalpina has used to complement its basic forwarding and logistics services. The company will lease a the jumbo freighter from Atlas Air under an ACMI contract, for the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance services that Atlas provides.
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By The Numbers: International Air Freight Industry.
“The world of air cargo has changed fundamentally over the last 20 years, and yet our Dixie Jet service is still booming. The service is a pillar of our worldwide air freight network and customer demand for this product is very high,” said Panalpina CEO Monika Ribar.
The new routes include Luxembourg-Johannesburg, Luxembourg-Hong Kong via Dubai as well as Hong Kong-Luxembourg and Hong Kong-Huntsville.
Panalpina said the added freighter capacity under its own control will provide “utmost” flexibility of schedules and routings as it can adjust rotations according to market and customer needs, while creating synergies with its Dixie Jet trans-Atlantic service.
“We will be able to provide upper and lower deck capacity when and where needed, providing customized value added solutions,” said Panalpina Chief Operating Officer Karl Weyeneth.
The service is being launched on the twentieth anniversary of the Dixie Jet service, the first scheduled cargo service between Europe and North America offered by a freight forwarder that guaranteed total control during door-to-door transport.
The Dixie Jet service also serves Mexico City, Guadalajara and London Stansted.
