Cargoitalia to launch Chinese service
Cargoitalia is poised to launch scheduled services to Shanghai, China, in September – utilising its recently-arrived third MD11 freighter aircraft. From September 8, Cargoitalia will operate direct non-stop flights from its Milan (Malpensa) hub to Shanghai Pudong every Wednesday and Sunday.
A series of ad hoc flights during July have been used as a “soft launch” to test all elements of the new operation, which introduces Cargoitalia’s latest aircraft embodying several design differences, including increased payload and forward cargo door.
In Shanghai, the airline is working with handling agent PACTL West (Shanghai Pudong International Airport Public Cargo Terminal Co. Ltd – West), while China Eastern Airlines will provide ramp handling. Cargoitalia’s general sales agent in Shanghai – New Asia Capital Resources – is the same company with which it has worked in Hong Kong since the launch of scheduled services in September 2009.
Cargoitalia will step up frequency of its Shanghai services to three times per week from October.
Commercial director Roberto Gilardoni said: “Mainland China has always been high on our list of priorities for scheduled service, and Shanghai is attractive because it has strong traffic in both directions. The addition of Shanghai to our network also opens up further potential for transhipments to and from the USA via Milan, using our New York and Chicago services.”
