Air Malta has announced the appointment of Network Airline Services (NAS) as its Total Cargo Management (TCM) service provider – as it looks to grow its cargo footprint.
This appointment, will go-live on 1 June, abd follows an adjudicating process after the issuance of an international request for proposals to which a number of firms showed aninterest.
The TCM concept is viewed as an increasingly popular solution by a number of airlines and represents opportunities of generating additional cargo revenues from the maximisation of aircraft cargo hold capacities.
It is expected to generate new business opportunities from various sources whilst the airline concentrates on its core business of being a passenger airline.
Apart from a guaranteed income to Air Malta, this project shall generate cost savings in terms of better synergy shared between Air Malta and NAS across important functions such as sales and marketing, pricing and revenue management, cargo reservations, revenue accounting, back-office administration, IT systems, cargo handling and interline contracts.
Moreover the TCM concept will enable Air Malta to re-group its cargo business, re-establish itself in the market place, and increase distribution channels whilst building a sound platform for possible future growth of its cargo business as an important revenue contributor to the airline through freighter hub operations, multimodal transportation, e-commerce, door-to-door products and more.
Air Malta’s head of cargo sales and marketing, John Vella explains: “We are proud to team up with Network Airline Services (NAS) as our preferred global cargo General Sales Agent.
“With over 30 years air cargo management experience, NAS are strategically positioned to assist Air Malta and together roll out our exciting plans and projects which will radically transform in a positive manner the way we conduct our cargo business.”
“Our vision is to strategically strengthen our position and regain a global cargo footprint and presence through NAS’s network. Locally we intend to grow our market share and become the leading carrier of choice for the carriage of cargo, courier and mail shipments both as an airline and more importantly as the National carrier.”
NAS sales director, John Gilfeather adds: “Air Malta Cargo has an established tradition of providing excellent customer service to companies and individuals sending goods to and from Malta. NAS has a proven track record of growing airlines cargo revenues through using the NAS global office and IT network to build a carriers cargo brand and target new revenue streams.”
