Manston seeks to spice up freight traffic

Manston Airport is confident of landing new customers after showcasing what it offers at the world’s biggest freight exhibition in India.

Air Cargo India 2012, held in February in Mumbai, is this year’s largest freight aviation exhibition. It brings together nearly 2,500 of the world’s senior air freight businesses, and the people who make the day-to-day decisions behind an industry which, despite the global downturn, is continuing to grow.

Speaking after returning from the event, Allan MacQuarrie, Group Freight Development Manager, who is based at Manston, said: “The show enables us to meet the world’s air freight industry in one place. It’s much more than trying to secure customers from India, the net is cast much wider and includes the potential for new freight traffic from the Middle East, Africa, as well as Europe.

“This year we saw an increase in enquiries for our general cargo capabilities, as well as for handling fresh produce. Our freight customers are attracted by our industry-beating turnaround times for flights, competitive prices and fewer delays than at other UK airports. It is a highly competitive marketplace but we are confident that we will secure new freight customers and grow this part of the Manston business during the year.”

As well as welcoming freight forwarders, airlines, and charter service companies, Air Cargo India 2012 also hosts many of the world’s leading freight airports, with a major contingency from Germany including Cologne Bonn, Frankfurt Hahn, Hannover, and Stuttgart.

Charles Buchanan, Chief Executive of Manston Airport, said: “Given the rising level of freight being imported into the UK, and our ability to beat every other South East airport in terms of time it takes to unload and prepare the airline for take-off, means that we are very well placed to grow our freight business.”