Regional freighter feed aircraft will become a major force in the AsiaPacific cargo markets, according to Steve Doughty, vice-president sales and marketing for BAE Systems Regional Aircraft.

Speaking at the Air Freight Asia Conference in Hong Kong yesterday, Doughty pointed out that regional freighters are an integral part of developed cargo networks. “As Asian economies flourish and consumer demand grows, so pressure for domestic air freight feeder networks will increase,” he said.

“This has already been recognised by the major integrators who are taking steps further to develop feeder networks in this marketplace, notably China. However, with no regional or short-haul freighter aircraft in series production – a reflection of sector economics - issues such as aging aircraft regulations remain a potential barrier to the import of converted used freighters. There are also issues with potential congestion at key hubs, which may constrain the development of feeder networks.”

Doughty argues that despite having five of the world’s top ten cargo airports, measured by annual tonnage, and a further seven airports in the top 25, many with double digit growth, the Asian airfreight market is still developing. Air cargo in the region is geared to centralised industrial production and export, with feed typically provided through road/rail/sea transport or in passenger belly holds.

“This contrasts with the situation in the more developed, but still growing, air freight networks in Europe and the USA where there are significant feeder networks that have evolved in response to consumer demand and diversification of production.”

Doughty also pointed out that this difference is revealed in the make-up of the European and Asian air cargo fleets. The European fleet is larger overall and includes some 450 regional freighters, while the Asian fleet, although smaller, has a larger long-haul freighter component. The regional freighter fleet in Asia numbers only around 80 aircraft.

He predicts that as pressure for domestic air freight networks grows, so regulatory barriers will be changed to focus on to passenger fleets. And as regional routes in the area are longer than in Europe, so demand will gravitate to towards regional jet freighters, rather than turboprops.

Doughty pointed out that BAE Systems Regional Aircraft has relaunched the BAe 146QT (Quiet Trader) freighter conversion programme and this aircraft is “right-sized, right-priced and right-timed to meet the needs of this market”.

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Source: Flight Daily News

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