Building on its outstanding performance in 2017, the Freight division at global aviation services group Air Partner plc has delivered a second year of record results. As announced in Air Partner’s recent full year results for the year ended 31 January 2019, Freight gross profit for the year was up 45.3% to £4.9m, accounting for 13.8% of the group’s overall gross profit.
Over the course of the last financial year, the group invested in people across its regional offices, expanded its team in Turkey and established a new team in the US, in addition to winning sizeable mandates from a variety of new and existing clients. Cargo work has been carried out across a range of sectors, including automotive, aid, aerospace and energy, with customer requirements ranging from the transportation of a small box via Air Partner’s growing on-board courier service to chartering the largest aircraft in the world, the An-225.
The introduction of a Freight offering in Fort Lauderdale has proven particularly successful, helping to push Freight gross profit and customer numbers to their highest ever level. The team there had a very busy year working on numerous projects, including the co-ordination of 30 charters carrying humanitarian aid to Guam and Saipan during the typhoon season.
Outside of the US, the Turkey office arranged the transportation of 500 tonnes of construction materials to West Africa and the UK benefited from its work supporting airlines in their aircraft on ground (AOG) recovery, as well as government flying. The German office also continued to see high levels of activity from the automotive sector and delivered its 11th consecutive year of growth.
Furthermore, Air Partner opened two new offices in Singapore and Houston in early 2019, both of which offer Freight services, thereby broadening the division’s geographic reach even further.
Off the back of this strong performance, Air Partner will be attending Air Cargo Europe from 4-7 June 2019 in Munich, Germany, exhibiting at stand B1.325. Members of the Freight team will be on hand to talk about the group’s extensive cargo and OBC solutions, which include part and full charter, as well as on-board courier services.
Mike Hill, Director of Freight at Air Partner, commented: “I am delighted that the Freight team has maintained the momentum from 2017 and delivered another record year in 2018. The new offices have created a wealth of exciting cargo opportunities across a range of sectors and regions, and we look forward to capitalising on these in the coming months. As always, we remain committed to delivering unparalleled levels of service while further growing our already enviable customer base.”
