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World Airways to expand cargo service for Air Canada
BY OUR AVIATION CORRESPONDENT
13 June, 2005: World Airways has reached an agreement for a multi-year wet-lease contract with Air Canada to operate an additional MD-11F freighter aircraft for international cargo service. The deal is subject to approval of Air Canada's board.
Under the agreement, World Airways would operate two MD-11F aircraft for Air Canada through August 2007 between Toronto, Canada; China and points in North America. The amended contract has an estimated value of $101 million. World Airways launched service with the first aircraft in May 2005, and the second begins in June.
"We welcome the opportunity to expand our new partnership with Air Canada to support their growing cargo operation. We will operate five flights a week between Toronto and Shanghai, with intermediate service to Calgary on four of those flights," World Airways senior vice president (marketing and planning) Rob Binns said.
"In view of strong customer response to our recently introduced Toronto-Shanghai all-cargo service, we are excited with the prospect of expanding dedicated freighter services to Shanghai from our main Toronto hub," Air Canada International Cargo Division vice president Claude Morin said.
"The Calgary-Shanghai link is also a priority as we look to improve access from Alberta to the rapidly expanding Chinese market," he said.
The additional aircraft became available because of a delay in previously announced new service by Thai Air Cargo. With this expanded Air Canada agreement, World's five MD-11 freighters will be leased into 2007.
World Airways is a wholly owned subsidiary of World Air Holdings Inc and is a US-certificated air carrier providing transportation services for major international cargo and passenger carriers, US military and international leisure tour operators.
BY OUR AVIATION CORRESPONDENT
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