Jump to content
MalaysianWings - Malaysia's Premier Aviation Portal
flee

MASkargo eyes bigger freighters next year

Recommended Posts

MAalaysia Airlines Cargo Sdn Bhd (MASkargo), the air cargo subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, says it is looking for bigger cargo planes next year when the lease of its four narrow-body freighters expires.

Managing director Shahari Sulaiman said he was deliberating on the best aircraft type for the carrier in light of a recovery in world air freight volume and was considering wide-body freighters such as the Boeing 747-400 and the Airbus 330.

 

Currently, MASkargo has a wet-lease contract for four 747-200 freighters (747-200Fs) provided by Air Atlanta Icelandic, which expires at the end of April next year. This is in addition to two 747-400Fs that it owns.

 

A wet lease is the leasing of a plane including crew, maintenance and insurance.

 

"Next year, we have an opportunity to right-size our freighter capacity (to better match demand). We are working out what is the best aircraft type to use beyond April and may look at the bigger 747-400Fs or A330Fs," Shahari told Business Times in an interview.

He added that cargo volume in the third quarter had shown encouraging signs of a recovery.

 

MASkargo saw year-on-year demand improve from a 30 per cent decline in the first quarter of the year to a 23 per cent decline in the second quarter. Its biggest improvement was in the third quarter, with September showing a 9 per cent decline.

 

"Cargo volume handled in September was higher than in December last year. As such, we expect to see positive growth in cargo volume by November."

 

While Shahari believes that the worst is over for the air cargo industry, he feels that recovery will be slow.

 

"This year, the business environment has never been this challenging for the aviation industry, including the air cargo segment. Volume has dropped drastically and the region most impacted was Asia-Pacific.

 

"However, in recent months, we see a recovery (in volume) in Asia-Pacific, especially China. So, while we were the first (region) to be hit by the global economic crisis, we were also the first to recover from it," he said.

 

MASkargo's average load factor continues to hover at 70 per cent, above the 48 per cent market average, thanks to capacity cuts in the first quarter.

 

"We parked one of our 747-400Fs in March this year to cut costs amid the global economic downturn. In addition, our parent MAS had cut scheduled passenger flights by 13 per cent, affecting the bellyhold capacity which accounts for 60 per cent of our cargo capacity. These measures have kept our cargo load factor up," said Shahari.

 

However, with capacity down, even though cargo numbers have started to rise, yields remain weak.

 

"According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the yield dilution in the airline industry was close to 17 per cent. Ours are below that level," Shahari said.

 

In response to the seasonal upturn in cargo demand in the fourth quarter, MASkargo brought back into service last month its parked 747-400F.

 

"With the reintroduction of our freighter, we launched a once-weekly service between Kuala Lumpur and Narita, Tokyo, via Senai, Johor Baru, and increased our flights between Pudong, Shanghai, and Amsterdam to twice a week.

 

"We have also increased our charter business from China to Europe as well as to new destinations never served before. For instance, last month, we provided a charter flight service from Melbourne to Djibouti," Shahari said.

 

On the home front, MASkargo will begin a "multi-million-ringgit" project to expand its cargo capacity at the Advanced Cargo Centre (ACC) at KL International Airport in Sepang by the year-end.

 

"We plan to increase our cargo handling capacity to one million tonnes a year within the next three to four years, from 650,000 tonnes at present, by improving our processes. The expanded facility will cater for our requirements for the next 10 years," Shahari said.

 

MASkargo expects to handle 600,000 tonnes of cargo at the ACC this year, down from 620,000 tonnes last year. However, it anticipates an increase of at least 10 per cent in cargo volume next year.

 

Source: http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/MKAGO19-2/Article/index_html

 

 

Maybe they should convert some of MAS' old 744's to F configuration. Or they can buy those parked MD-11's from Transmile.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Would it be feasible to convert MH's unused B747s pax version to cargo?

 

Sidetrack a bit. Read from a magazine that one of CX Cargo's silver bullet B-HUR is currently on long term parking somewhere in US. Can other airlines lease those under long term parking?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Since many people believe MH couldn’t sustain A380 pax operation and A380 can’t be cancelled, may be Mas Kargo can use A380 for cargo :blink:

 

:drinks:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Would be nice to see a 333F in MASKargo colours though, but isnt the capacity of a 333F smaller than the MD-11s?

There is no A333F - Airbus is currently developing the A332F.

 

The A332F will not come in time unless MASKargo has managed to lease it. First flight of this aircraft is scheduled for November and first delivery (to Emirates) will be in the middle of next year. MD-11's have slightly more capacity when compared to the A332F.

Edited by flee

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Where is Transmile's MD-11 at the moment ?

All four MD-11's are parked at SZB. Transmile are looking for buyers for these planes.

Edited by flee

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Since many people believe MH couldn’t sustain A380 pax operation and A380 can’t be cancelled, may be Mas Kargo can use A380 for cargo :blink:

 

:drinks:

Even FedEx cancelled their orders for the A380F...I doubt that plane is of any use to MASKargo.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

First flight of this aircraft is scheduled for November and first delivery (to Emirates) will be in the middle of next year.

Correction: Sorry, the first delivery is to Etihad.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

MAalaysia Airlines Cargo Sdn Bhd (MASkargo), the air cargo subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, says it is looking for bigger cargo planes next year when the lease of its four narrow-body freighters expires.

 

Currently, MASkargo has a wet-lease contract for four 747-200 freighters (747-200Fs) provided by Air Atlanta Icelandic, which expires at the end of April next year. This is in addition to two 747-400Fs that it owns.

 

 

1 - Since when is a 747-200Freighter a narrow-body ?

2 - bigger freighters than the 747-400Freighter ?

 

Load-wise, a -400 can haul more than a -200, but size is similar...

 

Are they looking for AN-124's or Galaxy's ?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Load-wise, a -400 can haul more than a -200, but size is similar...

 

Are they looking for AN-124's or Galaxy's ?

Are they dropping a hint that they might be looking at the 747-8 Freighter? :p

 

A332F?... they may as well go for the B777F.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Pieter,

 

In Malaysia, there is no such thing as Aviation Correspondent. All the writers are merely reporters (who may have mass communications qualifications) - they are not specialists in any field. So please excuse their ignorance!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

From past experience of being one of their many customers, I prefer they use the 74Fs (be it 742 or 744). Made life easy for me dispatching odd-size cargo. :drinks:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Except the MD-11's are a pain in the butt to mainatain that's why the 340 sold well. If MH was that desprate they could have a fleet of b757'S for Asia Pacfic B777's for long haul and B747'S for trnk and it would be a good idea if Mas Cargo order's B747-8I

 

Maybe they should convert some of MAS' old 744's to F configuration. Or they can buy those parked MD-11's from Transmile.

Edited by C.Foo

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Agree with some of you...

 

1) Lease TH's MD11F

2) Go for 747-8, since there are some local suppliers produce the composite parts. (i.e ACM Kedah & CTRM Melaka).

3) 747-400 BCF.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

3) 747-400 BCF.

 

Martinair just parked a few in 'the desert', so up for grabs... :pardon:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Martinair just parked a few in 'the desert', so up for grabs... :pardon:

 

Yup,i agree with you,Uncle Pieter.Perhaps it's time for MASKargo to consider it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Mas Kargo won’t be acquiring any MD-11 as fuel burn is uneconomical; a reason Transmile is uncompetitive.

But then, LH seems to be doing just fine with theirs. As a matter of fact, its cargo arm operates only MD-11F. There are 19 of them though 6 have been temporary grounded because of the uncertain economy.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Fuel burn is only one part of total operating costs. If the MD-11's cost peanuts to buy, then higher fuel burn will only hurt if the plane flies a lot of the time. Cargo planes tend to have much longer turnaround times compared to civil airliners.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Obtained from Flight Int'l...

 

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/10/23/333903/maskargo-seeking-leases-on-widebody-freighters.html

 

Also, found from Flight Int'l that MASKargo joint venture with Hainan Airlines...

 

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/10/23/333918/maskargo-forms-alliance-with-hainan-airlines-group.html

 

 

On the earlier note, if MAS would to consider B747-200F in their search, why not just renew their contract. A330F or B747-400F

would make more sense. Also, what happen to the sole A300F?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...