Pacific Air Express looks north to China for all-cargo
- Latest News
- Thursday, 01 June 2017
Australian carrier Pacific Air Express is planning to move to another level of international freight operations.
It has applied to the International Air Services Commission for allocation of unlimited cargo capacity on what in air rights terms is called “the China route”.
The Brisbane-based carrier is already one of Australia’s most significant air freight operators although in overall tonnage uplift weekly it is a relatively small player beside the Qantas group with its vast belly-hold capacity and growing freighter fleet.
As we reported last week, PAE has taken up IASC’s offer for early renewals of capacity determinations by asking to both renew and expand its Nauru allocation, given that this route is now un-restricted.
PAE is primarily an Australia/Pacific Islands operator, currently using chartered B737 freighters although it has had a variety of other freighters in the past. Its operations include a special status with the Solomon Islands where the carrier was originally conceived.
In the IASC application for China, managing director Gary Clifford said PAE “seeks to continue its development of trade routes using dedicated freighter aircraft by introducing a scheduled freighter service which will link northern Australia and the south west Pacific region with China.
“The proposed service will operate between Brisbane and Guangzhou using Boeing 757-200F aircraft with 32 tonnes freight capacity. Commencement of this service is planned for mid-November 2017.”
PAE is seeking an initial five-year term.
According to the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development’s Register of Available Capacity “there are no limitations in relation to frequency, capacity or aircraft type for dedicated cargo services between Australia and China”.
IASC has asked for submissions next week on both the China and Nauru applications. As explained in the past, anyone with a relevant interest can make a submission – not just a competing carrier.
