News / AirBridgeCargo Premium 'guaranteed space' service takes off

© Khunaspix Dreamstime.

AirBridgeCargo has launched a premium service which guarantees capacity, following increasing customer demand.

Shipments booked under the ABC Premium label will also be prioritised above other shipments.

Vice president of sales and marketing Robert van de Weg told The Loadstar the product had been launched after the “success” of a similar service it had run for several years in local markets.

“The demand is there – as seen in local markets like Europe – but now we have standardised the product globally and we are giving it an extra push,” he said.

“Of course, success will depend on the level of ‘rush’ in the market, and volumes will vary with supply/demand trends; right now, markets are soft but this will surely change again.”

Launch of the product follows a less-than-successful 2018 for the cargo carrier, which grew at a lower-than-market rate, with volumes up 2% compared with IATA’s market average 3.9%, a situation the carrier put down to lack of capacity.

Despite slow growth, ABC sought solace in a 25% upturn in special cargo, and deputy general director Fedor Novikov noted it was these volumes the new product would target.

“We expect ABC Premium to attract high demand from customers with urgent, time-sensitive shipments,” said Mr Novikov.

“On top of this, we will be able to combine existing services and products, for example, for vaccines we might combine ABC Pharma and ABC Premium, or for aircraft engines use both ABC XL and ABC Premium to deliver speed and quality.”

To guarantee the capacity, Mr van de Weg told The Loadstar the carrier had implemented “special procedures” for its stations worldwide, although he did not go into much detail.

Asked if it would result in non-Premium cargo being “bumped”, he said the “aim was never to compromise”, but no freight was booked “flight-specific”.

“There are flexible limits of space for [ABC Premium] shipments based on day, origin and route, taking in consideration the long-term commitments with our partners,” he continued.

As for the pricing, he said it was a “reasonable premium” price that would vary depending on both the season and all-round demand.