MASkargo is speaking to leasing companies about leases on widebodies to replace its Boeing 747-200 freighters.
The wet-leases on the four Boeing 747-200Fs from Air Atlanta Icelandic expire in April so "we have to make a decision early next year", says MASkargo managing director Shahari Sulaiman.
Options it is considering are wet-leases and dry-leases either on Airbus A330Fs, 747-200Fs or Boeing 747-400Fs, he says.
Shahari adds, if the airline decides to get 747-400Fs it may not necessarily be for four aircraft and it could be for just two or three.
Last year, when crude oil prices peaked at $147 a barrel, some airlines parked their 747-200Fs because these older aircraft were costly to operate.
When asked about this week's spike in crude oil prices at $80 a barrel, Shahari says prices could easily go to $100 a barrel. Fuel prices "are definitely one of the things we will be taking into consideration" when deciding on freighters, he adds.
The world's cargo carrier's have been severely affected by the global economic downturn. But Shahari says there are markets that are showing signs of recovery.
"For the past month things have been really strong in China," he says.
MASkargo last year reduced its weekly services to China to four flights from 12, but in September it increased it to eight and "due to high demand for charters, the airline is now increasing it to 10".
All of MASkargo's freighter flights to China are to Shanghai Pudong but it also serves other Chinese cities using belly-hold space on Malaysia Airlines' passenger aircraft.
"There are various things pushing" the recent rise in demand for China cargo services, he says, adding that the launch of Windows 7 and other new IT gadgets has helped.
"It was always expected that if there is going to be a recovery, it will be in China."
But 'is it sustainable?', he adds.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
