More freighters for AirBridge

AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC) will take two more freighters into its fleet this year – and has said it is considering a further two.

Speaking to Cargo Facts’ European editor Alex Lennane, ABC’s Executive President Denis Ilin said that one 747-400ERF, formerly oper­ated by KLM/Martinair Cargo (35233), was completing test flights in Amsterdam in early January in anticipation of delivery to the airline in February. He added that he expected a 747-8F to be delivered in September. “But that is the minimum. We might be more aggressive, and could do two more airframes. We do see the business for that – it’s more our own operational requirements that prevent us. We want to be 100% certain that we can per­form so we tend to be very conservative on that front.”

The carrier plans to increase its footprint in North America this year, and will start a service to Los Angeles, probably during the summer, via ei­ther Atlanta or Chicago.

Ilin also noted that ABC was in an opportunistic mood and constantly surveying the market to spot any gaps. As a result, he said, the carrier was eyeing Helsinki, where national carrier Finnair is moving out of long haul freighter operations. Amsterdam, where Martinair is decreasing operations, would continue to be a key gateway, he added, while the airline had increased operations at Charles de Gaulle in Paris, home of Air France.