James Woodrow, cargo director, Cathay Pacific. answers:
‘AIR cargo is moving into an era of fewer freighter operators. Those that remain will have to invest in modern, fuel-efficient aircraft, and that is a difficult decision. Most carriers could provide a better business case for a new passenger ‘plane than for a new freighter.
Meanwhile, the seemingly unstoppable rise of the Gulf carriers means they have grown very rapidly and that has to be at someone else’s expense. They’ve definitely taken [market] share from us.
The lowest cost of providing capacity is a B777 belly, and they [Middle East carriers] can fly freighters only half way to Europe and then can switch to bellies and distribute to their huge networks. That has made Europe much more difficult for us. . .’
