MASkargo signs aircraft lease deal with Southern Air

MALAYSIA Airlines Cargo (MASkargo) and Connecticut-based Southern Air Inc have signed a multi-year, multi-aircraft lease agreement, reports Bernama news agency.

Under the agreement Southern Air would initially provide three Boeing 747 freighter aircraft along with crew, maintenance and insurance, said MASkargo managing director Shahari Sulaiman.

"Maskargo also has an option to lease up to five aircraft, which will provide additional flexibility to meet demand for additional lift capacity and to develop the ability to service new markets," he said at the signing ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.

"We will be requiring a fourth aircraft by July with an option to increase to five units if there is commercial justification to do so," Mr Shahari said.

Southern Air initially will provide MASkargo with three Boeing 747 Freighter aircraft along with crew, maintenance and insurance, said a joint statement from the two companies.

MASkargo also has an option to lease up to five aircraft, which will provide it additional flexibility to meet growing demand for lift capacity and to develop the ability to service new markets, said the statement.

"As the air freight market has shown encouraging signs of growth in recent months, we are excited that we can offer more value from our new partnership with Southern Air," said Mr Shahari.

"The addition of these aircraft, combined with Southern Air's scalable operating platform, will allow us to respond to our customers' growing capacity requirements and expand our important charter business," he said.

"The full freighter aircraft we are leasing from Southern Air have improved fuel burn efficiency, higher payloads, and are fitted with nose and side cargo doors. This will allow us to accommodate larger specialised and oversized cargo loads and expedite the loading and unloading process. These features translate into faster delivery times and expanded service capabilities for our customers," said Mr Shahari.

Said Southern Air CEO Daniel McHugh: "This new partnership provides MASkargo the ability to leverage our industry-leading cost efficiencies and the opportunity to expand into our next wave of Boeing 777 Freighter deliveries."

The Boeing 747s Southern Air is delivering to MASkargo will bear Southern Air livery.

MASkargo is the air cargo division of Malaysia Airlines and operates four B747-200, two B747-400 and one A300-600 freighter covering the world's major cargo hubs. It also offers bellyhold capacity on Malaysia Airlines passenger aircraft serving 100 destinations worldwide.

Southern Air is a Norwalk, Connecticut, based US air cargo carrier specialising in the provision of block space and aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance services (ACMI). It operates 16 Boeing 747 Freighters and is the first ACMI operator to run the new Boeing 777 Freighter. Its first two 777 Freighters began service in the first quarter of 2010. The company has plans to operate up to six 777 Freighters.

(Source: www.schednet.com)