Jade Cargo launches services
Leithen Francis, Singapore (07Aug06, 06:28 GMT, 198 words)
Jade Cargo International, Lufthansa Cargo and Shenzhen Airlines’ cargo joint venture in China, has launched operations with services from its Shenzhen base to Seoul and Amsterdam.

The airline launched operations on 5 August with thrice-weekly service non-stop from Shenzhen to Amsterdam and a thrice-weekly service non-stop from Shenzhen to Seoul using its Boeing 747-400 extended range freighter, a Jade Cargo spokesman says from Shenzhen, adding that the first aircraft is now almost fully utilised.

This is one of three 747-400ERFs which it did sale-lease backs on with Irish company Amentum Capital Leasing, says the spokesman, adding that it has retained ownership on the other three 747-400ERFs it ordered from Boeing. Jade Cargo is due to get its second aircraft in November and will launch more services that month. It is considering Italy, India, Russia, Spain as well as Osaka or Nagoya in Japan, says the spokesman.

Also the airline has applied to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to launch a sixtimes- weekly service in January from Shenzhen to Frankfurt in Germany where Lufthansa cargo has a hub, adds the spokesman.

Lufthansa Cargo owns 25% of Jade Cargo, Shenzhen Airlines owns 51% and a German bank owns 24%. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news