AIR Cargo Express will introduce WA’s only fully containerised freighter aircraft operating a service to the Pilbara next month.
Air Cargo Express Pty Ltd managing director Garth Young said the introduction of the new service would not have been possible if Ansett was still operating.
“As yet there has been no replacement for the containerised F27 freighter aircraft previously operated by Ansett and this has left a large hole in service available throughout the North West of WA,” he said. “The result has been a reduction in capacity, which Air Cargo Express will fill.”
Air Cargo Express has signed a charter agreement with Horizon Airlines as sole user of the BAE 748 freighter. Unlike TNT and Qantas, the 748 service will be able to carry 5,500-kilogram loads when fully laden, using both containers and lockers with a 12-minute turnaround time capability.
“The only other freighter into Karratha and [Port] Hedland is a light aircraft operated by TNT express,” Mr Young said.
“Otherwise the only business choice is the Qantas passenger flights, which cannot provide an overnight service, instead not arriving till mid morning.”
Besides the good timing, the new service is also offering rates at around a third the cost of the other operators. Its rate is fixed at $7.50 a kilogram.
But it is really time pressures from North West operators that will fuel the demand for the new service.
Mr Young said the move into the WA market was the first of a major expansion plan for the business. By year’s end it hopes to have a similar service operating out of Darwin before moving on to Adelaide and then Queensland.
“We are really about targeting niche markets that are not being covered by the majors,” he said.
