AtR CARGO

"Where we differ from the majority of carriers,"

he continues, "is that we are not going for a sepa-
rate structure for cargo. What we have is a for-
mula to work with our passenger colleagues,
where we pay for the capacity provided by the
mainline fleet." Hatton says this is probably more
akin to "the KLM model rather than Lufthansa".
He says the process is maturing well.
Cargo is now involved in all new route evalu-
ations, fleet planning and frequency changes, as
well any decisions about cabin modifications
and weights on BA aircraft. As an example, he
describes how "seat-blocking" is now used on
some flights to Hong Kong and Singapore to
allow for additional cargo capacity. "It's just a
means of improving overall yields for the flights
involved," he says.
BA World Cargo acquires the capacity avail-
able from the mainline fleet and has become a
BA customer - we now have a good trading rela-
tionship, which even includes having BA as a
customer for non-AOG [aircraft on ground]
items," says Hatton. Unlike Lufthansa Cargo,
BA World Cargo is dependent on lift from
British Airways, although a 747 freighter is on
full time wet-lease for a thrice-weekly schedule
to Hong Kong, alongside part time charters on
an Airbus A300B4F and DC-8 freighters to
Israel and Africa, respectively, all of which are
based at London Stansted Airport. "We only
EVA's fleet of five MD-1 lFs is the cornerstone of its cargo operations, and four more are on order
deploy freighters where they are profitable,"
says Hatton. "We believe in the ability to flex in
and out of markets with this kind of extra capac-
ity," he adds.
BA STANCE
Although BA once operated its own dedicated
freighters (the last one, a 747-200F, was sold in
1982) and combis, die airline no longer sees a
need for such investments. "None of our cus-
tomers has asked us for a 'freighter'," says
Hatton, whose main focus is gearing up World
Cargo to be ready for the new building at
Heathrow. This is going on alongside imple-
menting the "Change Programme" to improve
and streamline all the processes in handling and
moving freight. Fundamental elements of the
programme include the introduction of the bar-
code system.
"We have launched the customer participa-
tion programme and all the major freight for-
warders are buying in to the concept," says
Hatton. "We've found a lot of enthusiasm, even
from those who are willing but not able to gear
up their own systems to work with us just yet,"
he says, adding that "transparency is something
diat is needed in this business, and we're finding
even where there's systems incompatibility with
a forwarder, there is a willingness to go for the
same high standards." Hatton feels that "tech-
nology can be viewed as a panacea sometimes,
but the solutions are there if all the partners
work together and communicate," a sentiment
echoed by Lufthansa Cargo's Althen.
'-Wmilun Sulunom for ihb World,
Ayres developed the Loadmaster to meet the stringent demands of
Federal Express. Their need for a low cost, easy to maintain aircraft
capable of hauling up to 8,800 pounds of high-priority freight fit the
Loadmaster concept perfectly.
With a choice of cargo, passenger and military configurations, the
Ayres Loadmaster is the perfect choice to compliment any fleet.
Visit us in Paris in Stand No. 348, Paris Hall.
Ayres
corporat
corporation
RO. Box 3090 Albany, GA U.S.A 31706
Tele.: (912) 883-1440 FAX: (912) 439-9790
E-Mail: pelewis@ayres-corp.com
Website: www.ayres-corp.com
FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 29 April - 5 May 1998 51