New entrants are dipping their wings into a ‘new normal’ air freight market

Air freight rates may have declined slightly, but remain high, while demand is also strong.

New data shows that volumes fell only half the normal amount during the Chinese New Year, and this “new normal” is attracting freight arrivals.

DHL Express today announced that leisure airline Condor will fly four of its 767 passengers on its behalf. From Leipzig, they will operate to Shannon, Milan-Malpensa and Cologne until the end of May.

“We started carrying more cargo last year and have continued to leverage our air cargo expertise. And we are very happy to work now with such an experienced partner DHL Express», Declares Christian Schmitt, COO of Condor.

“The partnership also demonstrates Condor’s ability to adapt to unusual situations and make a significant contribution to sustaining international supply chains.

DHL Express said that the additional capacity will help improve service and transit times.

Condor has been transporting freight since last April, with 14 of its 16,767 carrying freight at any given time. He has formed a freight team, although he points out that he continues to handle passenger traffic.

However, market watchers have wondered how long cargo-only passenger flights could run as the cost of fuel rises and makes them unprofitable.

It was also announced yesterday that DHL Express has partnered with SmartLynx Malta to introduce two A321-200Fs to the integrator’s fleet.

SmartLynx, which is part of the Avia Solutions group, the same team as Chapman Freeborn, has also decided to enter the cargo market.

SmartLynx Malta plans to add two A321Fs this year and up to four in 2022, with the business goal of becoming one of the largest narrow-body freight carriers within the next three years, it says.

Meanwhile, Aerotranscargo, the Moldovan operator based in the United Arab Emirates, will launch a Dutch cargo operator in the Netherlands which will be led by former Saudia Cargo manager Peter Scholten and former Martinair manager Frank de Jong. .

The new Dutch entity will lease planes from Aerotranscargo in the UAE and services with two 747-400Fs will begin this summer to China, Hong Kong and the United States.

Mr Scholten said he hoped to increase the aircraft carrier to 10 aircraft and the company would create between 100 and 125 jobs at Schiphol.