Maximus Air Cargo more than tripled its turnover during the first four months of 2008 compared with last year. And the number of aircraft hours sold by the Abu Dhabi based specialist heavy lifter increased 6.3 times from 471 to 3,062.
"We now have a bigger fleet but the growth is also due to securing a much larger share of the market," said President and CEO Fathi Hilal Buhazza. Turnover for January to April 2008 was Dh122.8 million, compared with Dh37.8m in the same period last year.
Maximus has a fleet of eight all-cargo Antonov An-124-100, Airbus A300-600RF, Ilyushin IL-76TD, and Lockheed Hercules L382G aircraft operating across the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia.
It runs regular scheduled cargo services on behalf of airlines including Etihad Airways, Iberia, Air France and Sudan Airways and has this year secured additional short and medium-term wet lease contracts.
Maximus is the exclusive air relief support partner for the UAE Red Crescent and is one of the few international carriers that has been able to deliver supplies to cyclone-ravaged Burma. It is also carrying relief aid to China following the devastating earthquake there.
Earlier this year the carrier moved 800 tonnes of supplies for a European defence force that is creating a new base in Chad. The cargo was initially shipped by sea to Douala in Cameroon before being airfreighted from there to N'Djamena on 10 flights using Antonov 124 aircraft.
Maximus, the largest freighter-only air operator in the Middle East, specialises in moving outsized air cargo and wet leasing its own aircraft. Its two Lockheed Hercules L382Gs have been specially upgraded to carry all kinds of super-heavy cargo.
The Hercules is the only aircraft that can transport oversized and heavy cargo, drop goods from the air and land on airstrips or ground of any kind, enabling Maximus to deliver to any location on Earth. Clients include royalty, governments, multinational companies and humanitarian and relief organisations.
The company says it aims to offer responsive, practical and cost-effective solutions that combine a personal approach with innovative customer service.
By Staff Writer
© Emirates Business 24/7 2008
