newstodate.aero
May 01, 2017 (newstodate): While the Swedish/UK freighter capacity provider West Atlantic thrives in the larger jet freighter segments, the fleet of turboprop freighters continues to pose a challenge.
According to its 2016 report, now out, West Atlantic developed its service offering for the Boeing 737/Boeing 767 fleets significantly by placing several aircraft with new and existing customers, and after a challenging first quarter with delivery delays of the additional aircraft, the carrier enjoyed an increasingly stable operation for these fleets.
-Later in the year, West Atlantic was awarded a five-year exclusive contract with Royal Mail UK, for operation of their air network above eight tonnes. The contract has commenced early 2017, and is building up through the first half of the year. The contract includes the operation of nine Boeing 737 and three ATP aircraft, the report reads.
But problems with the smaller freighter aircraft remain.
-One challenge we had going into 2016 was to place more of our eight tonnes capacity aircraft into revenue service. When we summarize the year we can conclude that we have not managed to reach that objective.
-The number of ATP aircraft in revenue service has been reduced by almost 50 percent over the last two years, resulting in the Group carrying costs for a parked fleet.
-As we go into 2017, commercial focus will be to significantly improve the contribution from these assets through combinations of new contracts and charter activity. We will further evaluate markets outside of Europe, where regional cargo growth is higher, for business opportunities for this highly capable aircraft, the reports says.
In 2016, the carrier operated a fleet comprising 41 ATP turboprop freighters, two CRJ200PF, six Boeing 737-300SF and six Boeing 737-400SF, as well as three Boeing 767-200F aircraft.
According to its 2016 report, now out, West Atlantic developed its service offering for the Boeing 737/Boeing 767 fleets significantly by placing several aircraft with new and existing customers, and after a challenging first quarter with delivery delays of the additional aircraft, the carrier enjoyed an increasingly stable operation for these fleets.
-Later in the year, West Atlantic was awarded a five-year exclusive contract with Royal Mail UK, for operation of their air network above eight tonnes. The contract has commenced early 2017, and is building up through the first half of the year. The contract includes the operation of nine Boeing 737 and three ATP aircraft, the report reads.
But problems with the smaller freighter aircraft remain.
-One challenge we had going into 2016 was to place more of our eight tonnes capacity aircraft into revenue service. When we summarize the year we can conclude that we have not managed to reach that objective.
-The number of ATP aircraft in revenue service has been reduced by almost 50 percent over the last two years, resulting in the Group carrying costs for a parked fleet.
-As we go into 2017, commercial focus will be to significantly improve the contribution from these assets through combinations of new contracts and charter activity. We will further evaluate markets outside of Europe, where regional cargo growth is higher, for business opportunities for this highly capable aircraft, the reports says.
In 2016, the carrier operated a fleet comprising 41 ATP turboprop freighters, two CRJ200PF, six Boeing 737-300SF and six Boeing 737-400SF, as well as three Boeing 767-200F aircraft.