BIAS: Cargo boost as Mena Aerospace signs new deal

The two companies have already approved an outline agreement and will put pen to paper at the show.

The cargo partnership agreement will be signed by Dr Mohammed Juman, founder and managing director of Mena Aerospace, and Marco Isaak, the CEO of ACN group. The move will position the new alliance among the key freight players of Middle East, South Asia and Africa.

Under the agreement, ACN will base six of its cargo aircraft in Bahrain and the GCC, where it plans to service the internal MENA region as well as cargo routes into and from the region.

The first of its six aircraft, to include a B737-800F and B767-300F, are due to arrive within the next 14 months, and will begin operations immediately.

ACN’s aircraft and MEA’s existing Boeing 737-300 converted freighter will expand the operational fleet within the region.

Speaking ahead of the show, Dr Juman said: “As part of our growth plan, over the past couple of years we looked at and analysed the regional markets to see where the growth is and where the gates are to the global markets.

“The growth and potential we saw is mainly in the GCC area, Africa and south-east Asia. Our thought process was to try to link and serve these markets.

“CAN, as the leading freight cargo operator in south-east Asia, was identified as the perfect partner to expand our services in these markets. We are certain that this partnership will prove fruitful to both companies and the markets that we serve.”

The partnership operations will be under the ‘Mena Cargo’ brand – the freight subsidiary of MAE – and operations will be fully managed by ACN. Both partners hold Bahrain to allow  for the expansion of routes across the MENA region.