Russian carrier Transaero has introduced a new direct cargo service between Moscow and London to support the growing demand for air freight services within its network. The airline currently offers passenger flights into London Heathrow but the use of single-aisle aircraft alongside its widebodies to meet demand means it has only limited cargo uplift potential.
The new weekly dedicated freight service will enable it support the demand and it has selected London Satnsted Airport for the operation, the UK’s third busiest cargo airport. Alongside accessing the Russian capital, the link also has access to multiple connections across Transaero's wide-ranging network and has been specifically developed to cater for increased demand from freight forwarders.
"We are delighted Transaero have chosen London Stansted as their preferred UK airport for developing their UK cargo services. This is the first new cargo service to London Stansted since the recent acquisition by M.A.G, and we are certain it will not be the last,” said Conan Busby, Cargo Business Development Manager, M.A.G.
"Transaero's arrival clearly demonstrates the attractiveness of London Stansted as a UK cargo hub and is a perfect example of why M.A.G chose to invest in our new London gateway, the only London airport with spare capacity and world-class infrastructure already in place to meet demand and support growth in the South East right now,” he added.
Stansted is one of the largest freight hubs in the UK and home to an international cargo operation that transports over 240,000 tonnes of goods to destinations in nearly every continent, including the Americas, the Far East, Africa and the Middle East. Testimony to the airport's status as a major international cargo facility is the growing number of industry leaders that have already chosen to operate from the airport – Asiana, British Airways World Cargo, Cargolux, Global Supply Systems, FedEx, Martinair, Royal Mail, Panalpina, Titan, TNT and UPS.
The new route is being flown using a Tupolev Tu-204-100C and follows the recent arrival of a second example in the carrier‘s fleet. Transaero has acquired both aircraft from Ilyushin Finance Corporation (IFC) and introduced the first example into service in April on the Moscow – Novosibirsk – Yakutsk - Moscow route. According to the carrier the aircraft will be used on a mix of domestic and international routes, with the Austrian capital, Vienna, another western European market to be served by the type.
“Transaero intends to develop the segment of cargo transportation and the acquisition of Tu-204-100C aircraft underlines the carrier’s commitment to supporting Russian aircraft industry,” a spokesperson told The HUB this week. According to statistics from Russia’s Transport Clearing House, Transaero was the number one domestic cargo operator in Russia during the first four months of 2013, growing its freight turnover to a total of 76.1 million tonne km.
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