Massive freight drop at Kent Airport
17.06.08
Kent International Airport handled 1,342 tonnes of freight in May, just half of the throughput of May 2007. The drop was blamed on an early end to the produce import season and also the profitability issues being experienced by MK Airlines, which suspended operations earlier this month.
The airport said that seasonality remains a key issue with the produce business and it noted that the May throughput was substantially higher than the June 2007 total of 749 tonnes. However, on June 11, MK Airlines advised the hub that it has suspended operations and appointed administrators after failing to secure investment to help refinance the company and secure more fuel-efficient aircraft. Fuel costs had already resulted in part of the May downturn as MK chose to truck some produce from Luxembourg rather than fly directly to the UK.
A spokesman for Kent International said that, through its three scheduled carriers (MK Airlines, Egypt Air and Cargolux), has had a substantial market share in the African produce import market. If MK does not recommence flying, the IAEL team will be working very hard to identify alternative capacity to replace the MK flying by time the produce import business returns strongly after the UK summer.
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