Singapore Airlines Expands Cargo Network
New Route Connects Singapore to South America, Middle East, Europe
Apr 8, 2009
Singapore Airlines has confirmed its Singapore-South America cargo flight is now in its Northern Summer Schedules. It is a sure sign, as if anymore were needed, of how the world and its trade patterns are moving away from the old North models of across the North Atlantic and around North Asia to incorporate increasingly important South American destinations.
“We had a lot of requests from customers for capacity into South America, particularly Brazil,” said Walter Lien, SIA Cargo’s Senior Manager Global Sales and Distribution in a to-be-published interview with Air Cargo News.
Complex Route but Real Commercial Opportunities
The route SIA set up is Singapore-Dhaka- Brussels-Sao Paolo-Quito-Bogota-Bridgetown-Brussels-Sharjah and Singapore. It will be flown weekly, more if the market allows, with a B747-400F which carries only cargo no passengers and which has a payload of between 100 and 110 tonnes.
Lien was cautious and declined to discuss tonnage figures or volumes, arguing that it was still early days. “It’s a market we see some potential in but we need to give it some time to develop,” he told Suite 101.com
The market might also need some time to digest a quite complex route and the commercial opportunities it offers. Getting six lots of permission also took time and effort on Singapore Airlines part but they believe that the opportunity it will create for them in extending their network will be worth it. Especially as it allows them connect their Asian home base to the emerging economies of South America as well as to their European hub.
Brazil the Real Deal and Goal
Brazil is the real goal, the real point of call and the emphasis is on electronics both in terms of imports and exports. Inbound will be consolidated cargo and components and electronics whilst outbound is mostly electronic goods for export. Not surprising given that Sao Paolo is Brasil’s commercial centre and one of its big manufacturing zones and Brasil an increasingly important manufacturer.
This is in marked contrast to the other South American stops of Quito and Bogota. Quito is Ecuador’s political capital with the the coastal city of Guayaquil being its business centre although SIA believes Quito is still the best place to pick up cargo, mostly perishables such as fruit and seafood. This mix is repeated in Bogota where it will be also pick up flowers. Colombia is a major cut flower supplier and as the American market contracts keen to find new ones. So why not Brussels and Sharjah?
These two will be less voluminous but no less significant stops. Brussels, which is also SIA’s Euro-hub, will be a mix of machinery and consolidated goods whilst Sharjah which Lien said would see “not much with the exception of some oil and gas stuff.”
Colombia Payload Restrictions
All of which leaves Bridgetown, which is a technical stop. Think "need to refuel" and you have it. “The Bridgetown stop allows us to get higher payload,” explained Lien. “Out of Colombia the payload restrictions are quite severe.”
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