Jettainer has been selected to manage and maintain unit load device (ULD) pallets and containers for Canadian carrier WestJet.
The ULD outsource management company announced the news at the Air Cargo Handling (ACH) Conference in Bangkok from 1-3 September.
Operations are to start in conjunction with the inaugural flight of the carrier’s first widebody service, which will allow the airline to serve Europe and other regions of the world from Canada on a non-stop basis.
WestJet will utilise a mixture of nearly 400 pallets and containers. They will come into operation on flights of the first of four Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft, which has been delivered to WestJet. Additional units will be added continuously as the carrier’s fleet is expanded.
Jettainer managing director, Carsten Hernig, says: “By signing with this Canadian airline, we were first of all able to further strengthen our position in the Americas, one of our most important growth markets.”
The deal continues the investment in North America by Jettainer, which has taken over the ULD management for American Airlines and KF Aerospace.
Hernig continues: “This new contract also confirms our aim at approaching low-cost carriers and leisure airlines, which are expanding their product portfolio, for example in terms of adding widebody aircraft to their fleets in order to serve long-haul destinations.”
The ULD management firm also announced at ACH, that it has joined the board of ULD Care. Jettainer director of operations, Michael Popp, will help work on the further development and standardisation of ULD processes at the organisation.
The firm will also take part in the International Air Transport Association’s designated ULD Panel through Popp, who represents the airlines Lufthansa and Swiss.
