Tag: Air Transport

Precision Conversions Receives 757-200PCF Order from DHL

Posted by | Jun 28, 2007 | |

Precision Conversions, LLC (Precision) is pleased to announce that the company has received an award to provide DHL with their first full 15-pallet position 757-200PCF. The Rolls-Royce powered, ex-VIM Airlines aircraft (MSN 27598) will commence modification at the Flightstar Aircraft Services facility in Jacksonville, Florida this week and will be re-delivered in October, 2007. The aircraft is owned by DHL’s European Air Transport, but is expected to be operated by Blue Dart Aviation based in Chennai, India.

DHL’s Airline Director, Gordon Olafson, said that, “The Precision Conversions 757-200PCF, with its weight enhancements, is the right product at the right time to support our expanding global operations, especially in India.”

Precision Conversions has re-delivered 12 conversions to date and currently has 2 aircraft in work. The company holds 6 firm orders and contracts on more than 47 options for its 757-200PCF conversion.

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Astar Air wants to buy ABX Air

Posted by | Jun 28, 2007 | |

Miami’s Astar Air Cargo Holdings is seeking to enter into negotiations to acquire ABX Air, an Ohio-based cargo airline that claims Plantation-based DHL as its largest customer.

In a letter to ABX’s board Thursday, Astar boss John Dasburg said it was prepared to offer USD 7.75 per share for all of the outstanding ABX shares. ABX reported nearly 58.7 million shares outstanding as of last month, which would put Astar’s offer at about USD 454 million.

The offer comes about two weeks after DHL acquired a 49 percent equity interest and a 24.9 percent voting interest in Astar.

ABX’s shares soared 85 cents to USD 8.08 in early afternoon trading.

ABX was an affiliate of Airborne but was spun off to Airborne’s shareholders after DHL acquired Airborne’s ground operations for USD 1.05 billion in 2003. Federal rules restrict foreign ownership of U.S. airlines. DHL is an arm of Germany’s Deutsche Post.

Dasburg and an investor group acquired Astar four years ago when the airline was known as DHL Airways. The group paid USD 57 million for the airline.

“Mr. Dasburg and the ownership team have always wanted to own both carrier operations,” said Elliott Seiden, a lawyer representing Astar. “They made a proposal to DHL to buy both airlines back in 2003.”

Dasburg believes operating both Astar and ABX under one management team will create operational efficiencies, Seiden said.

ABX has received Astar’s offer and is evaluating it with advisors.

The smaller Astar has a fleet of 45 aircraft and 1,100 employees. ABX, by comparison, has about 100 aircraft and more than 6,100 full-time employees.

DHL has accounted for virtually all of ABX’s cargo in recent years, ABX reported in a regulator filing. ABX generated USD 90 million in net earnings on USD 1.26 billion in 2006. Astar is privately held.

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DHL buys stake in Astar Air Cargo

Posted by | Jun 12, 2007 | |

DHL on Tuesday announced it has acquired a minority stake in Miami’s Astar Air Cargo for an undisclosed amount.

DHL acquired a 49 percent equity interest and a 24.9 percent voting interest in Astar — just under federal thresholds that restrict foreign ownership of U.S. airlines. DHL is an arm of Germany’s Deutsche Post.

Jonathan Baker, a DHL spokesman, said the transaction was reviewed by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The deal comes four years after the airline, then known as DHL Airways, was sold by DHL and a private investor to a group led by former Burger King boss John Dasburg for USD 57 million.

DHL has recently targeted aviation investments to support its operations in the United States. It recently invested in New York’s Polar Air Cargo, which offer delivery services between the United States and Asia.

DHL relies on Astar to handle about a third of its U.S. express domestic air services, Baker said.

The transaction “signals DHL’s confidence in the capabilities of Astar,” said Dasburg, Astar’s chairman, president and CEO.

Federal law prohibits foreign ownership of any U.S. airline to 49 percent and voting interest to 25 percent. The law dates back to 1926.

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Chronopost names new management team

Posted by | May 31, 2007 | |

Chronopost, the French express subsidiary of La Poste / GeoPost, has named five new senior managers following the recent appointment of Christian Emery, previously head of ColiPoste, as managing director. Most of the new managers come from external companies.

Martin Piechowski is the new head of operations with responsibility for optimising the operator’s network of five hubs and 60 depots. He was formerly operations director at ColiPoste.

Charles Dauman has been appointed as new sales director. He was previously sales director for NeoPost France since 2001.

Sylvie Soris is now in charge of customer service. She will be responsible for improving customer satisfaction, call centre efficiency and introducing new electronic systems.

André Valade, formerly with Brink’s, the international security company, has been named head of security with responsibility for the operator’s locations and processes.

Tanneguy de Belloy, formerly director of administration and finances at Sun Microsystems France, has taken up the same post at Chronopost.

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TNT to ferry shipments on own freighters

Posted by | May 26, 2007 | |

TNT India is looking forward to launching its own freighters on the India-Europe route in the coming months. The subsidiary’s move follows the near integration of Speedage Cargo Express, a semi-road express firm it acquired last September, with its own processes and service standards.

“In the last eight months, we have invested ample time and money in the transformation of Speedage, which has started getting the feel and look of TNT. We will now look at introducing TNT freighters on India-Europe route for better control,” said Abhik Mitra, managing director, TNT India.

TNT is close to completing the re-branding process of Speedage. Also, the transition of Speedage processes and service standards to TNT’s levels has helped improve the firm’s average yield for road express services by 10-12%, but it still remains below the market average.

According to Mitra, after launching the European service, TNT would look at the India-China route, and eventually turn attention to launching a domestic air express.

Currently, the company uses cargo space on commercial airlines for its international and domestic shipments.

TNT India has set its sights on becoming the leading express cargo firm in the country by 2010, and has already committed investments of Rs550 crore to achieve its aim

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