A new freight carrier is set to be formally launched at Air Cargo Europe, the world’s largest trade fair for logistics, mobility, IT and supply chain management, when it takes place in Munich, Germany at the start of next month. The carrier, Aerospace One, will be headquartered at Châteauroux in France and plans to operate a mix of ACMI and charter services, initially using a single Boeing 747-200F, but with a 747-400F due to join the fleet within the first couple of months of operation.
The carrier has been established by Jaideep Mirchandani an air cargo specialist who was responsible for the formation of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE) headquartered business Veteran Avia in 2009. The carrier initially launched operations with Ilyushin Il-76TDs but has grown in the past couple of years with the arrival of three Boeing 747-200Fs, two of which are now flying for Saudia Cargo.
It is unclear what links will exist between Aerospace One and Veteran Avia. The new business has appointed air charter specialist chartersphere as exclusive agent to handle all charter inquiries and contract arrangements. The UK company also acts as a general sales agent for Veteran Avia. Meanwhile, the two airlines share a similar website design and some images of Aerospace One’s proposed fleet are identical to those used on Veteran Avia’s website.
According to Jaideep Mirchandani, Aerospace One was awarded its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) on May 11, 2013 and plans for its formal launch are at an advances stage. Its first aircraft, a former Martinair 747-200F which last saw service with Pakistani operator Rayyan Air, has been parked in Jakarta, Indonesia since April being prepared for delivery.
Although headquartered at Châteauroux, Aerospace One is expected to base its first aircraft in Greece and the jet has already been placed on the Greek aviation register. According to the carrier, “the geographic location of Greece between Europe, the Balkan countries, Russia the Middle and Far East, South America, is ideal for fast growing of ACMI leasing. Aerospace One will develop in large aircraft market, using the node of Greece combined with great demand from Africa.”
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic a start-up cargo carrier has applied to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for approval to launch freight services this year with a single McDonnell Douglas MD-11F but with ambitions to grow its fleet to at least four aircraft in the first year of operations. In its formal application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity which will authorise it to conduct foreign charter air transportation of both property and mail, Western Global Airlines says it aims to “respond to demand for the interstate charter transportation of cargo” by “establishing long-term working relations” with clients.
The ACMI operator is being backed by husband and wife team James K and Carmit P Neff and has a strong management team with decades of experience in the air cargo sector. Mr Neff was the founder of former US carrier Southern Air in 1999 and had served as its Chief Executive Officer up until 2010, three years after selling the business. Prior to the formation of Southern Air, Neff had held roles at Burlington Air Express, Continental Airlines, Emery Air Freight and Flying Tiger Line.
The start-up will acquire its aircraft directly from another business interest of CEO James Neff, Neff Air. The leasing company was formed in 2010 and now operates a fleet of two Boeing 747-400s and six MD-11 freighters, some of which are leased to Helsinki-based cargo carrier Nordic Global Airlines. Mr Neff serves as non-executive Chairman of the carrier and through a trust jointly managed with his wife owns a 29 per cent stake in the European business.
According to its application, the four MD-11Fs earmarked for Western Global are currently owned by “four special-purpose limited liability companies” that are owned entirely by James and Carmit Neff, and will be leased to Western Global by Neff Air, “at very favorable lease rates”.
Western Global plans to provide its services to other air carriers as well as freight forwarders around the world on an ACMI basis. It says its focus will be on “establishing long-term working relations” with those clients by offering “very competitive rates” compared to other operators due to its “highly experienced management team” and the “sharing of expenses” with sister venture Nordic Global. The shared cost elements are expected to include common contracted flight following/dispatch center, a common engine overhaul and maintenance centre and a common contracted crew supply company which will help minimise costs to both companies on either side of the Atlantic.
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