Canadian lobsters help EU freighter operation fly

The companies behind a new freighter service between Toronto and Brussels have revealed they are ahead of their targets a month after the launch.

At the end of May, KF Aerospace (formerly Kelowna Flightcraft) launched the four-times-per-week service between Toronto Pearson and Brussels, with a stop in Greater Moncton. It hopes to extend the service within two months to include western Canada via Vancouver and Calgary, and then use interline agreements to go on to Asia from Anchorage. It is also considering more connections in Amsterdam.

“We are one month since launch, and ahead of target with a high load factor,” said Stuart Holland, managing director of the carrier’s GSSA Kales. “It is going extremely well. There are some adjustments of schedule to adapt to customer requirements – especially the lobster shippers. The product has already evolved to suit customer needs – and that shows real drive and energy when a company can adapt in its early stages.”

He added: “The forwarders have received the service well, although some are yet to get on board and are watching the service. The next three months is about encouraging these customers to join us.”

The GSSA was particularly keen to attract lobster shippers, and said it had a “healthy number” of kilos on each flight, which has grown every week.

In addition, it has been able to move a lot of cargo to and from the US, he added.

The service is operated by two DC-10-30Fs on the international routes and two 727Fs in Canada.

Mr. Holland admitted that the age of the aircraft did not make them very economical. “But they are wholly owned. Once we have started, we will see what the demand is like, and then scale up to the right aircraft for the right route,” he added. “There will be some assessment of aircraft type.”