Hactl to handle Hong Kong airfreight service from Bismillah Airlines

Bangladesh-based Bismillah Airlines, which recently announced its first scheduled service to Hong Kong,  has chosen Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd (Hactl) to handle airfreight shipments for its twice-weekly flights from Dhaka. Hactl’s services will include ramp handling, cargo terminal operations, crew transportation and air cargo documentation.

The 747 freighter flights will be marketed in Hong Kong by general sales agent Smart-Trans, Hactl added. Inbound cargo will most likely include perishables, such as fruit, seafood and marine products, as well as textiles from Bangladesh. As the country develops its manufacturing industries, Bismillah said it will provide an “important trade link” in the Asian region, via the network of air cargo destinations made possible by Hactl. A. Mannan, managing director of Bismillah Airlines, said the decision was a “strategic step in our country’s international trade plans.”

“The Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor is a component of the Belt and Road initiative, and all additional transport links which are introduced to serve it will benefit from the increasing cooperation between the countries it connects,” said Hactl CEO Mark Whitehead.

Launched in 1998, Bismillah Airlines – part of the Mollah Group of Industries – operates domestic scheduled air services and charter operations to Europe and provides third-party line maintenance. The carrier also handles its own cargo shipments at Dhaka Airport.

Since 1976, Hactl has been Hong Kong’s largest independent cargo handler, currently serving more than 100 airline companies and 1,000 freight forwarders. Its SuperTerminal 1 facility is Hong Kong’s largest, with an annual design capacity of 3.5 million tonnes.