Farnair sets up cargo subsidiary in Morocco
Swiss carrier also makes a move into rail logistics
Switzerland-based Farnair Europe is setting up a cargo subsidiary in Morocco and also diversifying into rail freight logistics.
Farnair specialises in transporting freight on European routes on behalf of major express operators, using a fleet of ATR-72s,
Sales Director Christian Degouy told IFW: “We plan to have the Moroccan subsidiary in service by 1 December, operating from Casblanca to Paris CDG and Lisbon.
“Mid-term, we are looking to develop Casablanca as a hub location, with more aircraft based there perhaps serving destinations in North and West Africa,” he said.
In a further development outside its traditional European base, Farnair has played an active role in the setting-up of a new Indian cargo carrier, Deccan 360, providing an ATR-72 to operate on Indian routes.
Farnair recently phased-out its four F27Fs and this month will deploy its 12th ATR-72 freighter, to serve as a “hot spare” for UPS in Cologne.
Degouy said: “We’ve seen volumes pick up significantly on Eurropean routes, with the exception of the former Yugoslavia region.
“For us, market demand probably reached its lowest point in August 2009, but overall, last year turned out be a good one, from a financial point of view [the second-best result in the carrier’s 25-year history, after 2007].”
As evidence of the market recovery for express freight, Farnair will begin an overnight service linking Pisa with Milan Malpensa in November.
In a major departure for the group, Farnair is also diversifying into rail freight logistics, with the operation of a daily train between Germany and Poland, carrying products such as timber.
A long-term objective is to establish Budapest as a hub for air, road and rail freight. It already has a subsidiary company in Hungary.
“It will be some time before we are able to offer an integrated multi-modal service, but rail logistics marks a start,” Degouy said.
Farnair specialises in transporting freight on European routes on behalf of major express operators, using a fleet of ATR-72s,
Sales Director Christian Degouy told IFW: “We plan to have the Moroccan subsidiary in service by 1 December, operating from Casblanca to Paris CDG and Lisbon.
“Mid-term, we are looking to develop Casablanca as a hub location, with more aircraft based there perhaps serving destinations in North and West Africa,” he said.
In a further development outside its traditional European base, Farnair has played an active role in the setting-up of a new Indian cargo carrier, Deccan 360, providing an ATR-72 to operate on Indian routes.
Farnair recently phased-out its four F27Fs and this month will deploy its 12th ATR-72 freighter, to serve as a “hot spare” for UPS in Cologne.
Degouy said: “We’ve seen volumes pick up significantly on Eurropean routes, with the exception of the former Yugoslavia region.
“For us, market demand probably reached its lowest point in August 2009, but overall, last year turned out be a good one, from a financial point of view [the second-best result in the carrier’s 25-year history, after 2007].”
As evidence of the market recovery for express freight, Farnair will begin an overnight service linking Pisa with Milan Malpensa in November.
In a major departure for the group, Farnair is also diversifying into rail freight logistics, with the operation of a daily train between Germany and Poland, carrying products such as timber.
A long-term objective is to establish Budapest as a hub for air, road and rail freight. It already has a subsidiary company in Hungary.
“It will be some time before we are able to offer an integrated multi-modal service, but rail logistics marks a start,” Degouy said.
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