Triple i boosts air freight business in China

The move is part of Triple i’s plan to expand its air-cargo network in Asia and emerging markets. China is now Thailand’s second-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade value of Bt1.49 trillion during this year’s January-October period, accounting for 12.7 per cent of total trade of Bt11.75 trillion.
The group was earlier appointed as general cargo sales agent for LAN Cargo, the largest air-freight firm in South America, using Bangkok as a regional hub to distribute shipments to other countries in Latin America.
Chief executive officer Tipp Dalal said Triple i, via its subsidiary Asia Network International, was last month appointed exclusive air-cargo agent for Hainan Airlines in Bangkok and Phuket.
Hainan Airlines has been ranked as a five-star carrier by Skytrax. It provides both domestic and international routes covering 90 cities in Asia, South Africa, the European Union and North America.
In Thailand, Tipp said Hainan Airlines operated four routes: Bangkok-Hangzhou (three flights a week); Bangkok-Haikou (two a week); Phuket-Hangzhou (two a week); and Phuket-Beijing (three flights a week).
After operating air-cargo services on these routes for a month, Triple i Logistics Group has received good feedback from its clients, increasingly shippers of fruits and vegetables. Seafood accounts for about 90 per cent of air freight from Phuket, while apparel and electronics are among the top items shipped from Bangkok.
“Our first-year target is 1,000 tonnes, and we may adjust that again for the second half if Hainan Airlines increases its flight frequency and adds routes,” Tipp said.
Hainan Airline’s business plan for 2012 includes extending its network to Paris, Brussels, Seattle and New York. It will also increase the frequency of flights on the Bangkok-Beijing route next July.
He said the group retained its revenue target for this year of Bt1.8 billion, of which Bt950 million will be air-freight business. For 2012, the group expects to grow 15-20 per cent above this year.
Besides Thailand, the group acts as a general cargo agent for air freight in Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia.
It has also been appointed cargo agent for Emirates Airlines in Cambodia and for All Nippon Airways in Cambodia and Macau.
With Thai AirAsia, the group has opened one international air-freight route, Chiang Mai-Singapore, and two domestic routes, Chiang Mai-Phuket and Chiang Mai-Hat Yai.
Air freight accounted for about 54 per cent of the group’s total revenues.
For the sea-freight business, which has contributed about 35 per cent of the group’s revenue, it has expanded its Chiang Mai-Singapore shipping route together with South Korea-based CK Line, which appointed the group as a cargo agent in the middle of last year.