LOGISTICS solutions provider Raya Airways Sdn Bhd has recently marked the entry of its freight delivery services into the city of Nanning, China in line with its network expansion plan to increase its destinations within the Asia-Pacific markets.
The feat also made Raya Airways as the first Malaysian freight service provider operating to this destination.
“We are thrilled to expand our logistics solutions and time-definite services into China, one of the world’s largest and fastest growing air-cargo markets,” commented Raya Airways’ group managing director Mohamad Najib Ishak.
“With Nanning being the gateway to Asean and increasing cross-border e-commerce goods being transported from China into the Southeast Asian markets, this route expansion is timely in that it will support the increasing demand of cargo services from consumers and merchants, while offering us with an opportunity to create and provide a seamless logistics network driven by efficient service.”
Raya Airways presence comes on the heels of Kargo Xpress which recently commenced its flight operations with schedule charter flights from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) by flying its first dedicated cargo freighter – a Boeing 737-400F bearing registration 9M-KXA – with a capacity of up to 18 tonnes.
As a start, the aircraft will service the Kuala Lumpur-Kuching-Kuala Lumpur and Kuala Lumpur-Kota Kinabalu-Kuala Lumpur air cargo routes with six weekly flights to each destination from Tuesday to Sunday.
Despite 2020 being the worst year for air cargo demand since 1990 with a 10.6% dip year-on-year (yoy), global air freight markets have rebounded to outperform pre-COVID-19 levels with demand up by 4.4% yoy in end-March, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mohamad Najib said freight transportation has become increasingly significant, hence it becomes integral for Raya Airways to strengthen its expansion plan into new markets.
“We look forward to introducing more new routes in the months ahead as we increase our interconnecting network of destinations to support businesses during this pandemic,” he added.
Raya Airways will serve Nanning four times per week with an average weekly load of 30 tonnes and a maximum capacity of up to 40 tonnes by utilising its Boeing 767-200F aircraft.
This new freight route will carry all shipments that Raya Airways specialises in, namely cross-border e-commerce products and consumer goods, including perishable items.
Emboldened by a rapidly developing logistics industry, Raya Airways aims to expand its network to more destinations within Asia-Pacific, including within China and other countries later this year. – June 15, 2021
