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Aviation History
1977
1977 - 2318.PDF
FLIGHT International, 30 July 1977 311 "^#ou name it, we fly it" is the slogan I of Luxembourg's Cargolux Air lines International. In fact anything goes, anywhere, at any time, according to managing director Einar Olafsson. Based in the Grand Duchy of Luxem bourg, this all-cargo charter carrier began operations in 1970 with a single Canadair CL-44D4. Major shareholders are Loftleidir Icelandic Airlines and Salen Shipping with a third each; Luxembourg flag carrier Luxair, local banks and private interests hold the remainder. During the 1960s Loftleidir operated the CL-44 on North Atlantic passenger services. As the Icelandic carrier bought DC-8s, the CL-44 fleet (one D4 and the rest CL-44Js, 15ft longer than the standard CL-44) was converted for freight and passed on to Cargolux. The airline was operating five CL-44s (three model Js and two D4s) by the end of 1972, in which year they flew over 10,000hr and carried 14,868 tons of freight. A DC-8-61 was introduced within a year, and the CL-44 fleet was re duced to three as more DC-8s were added. This year Cargolux is operating three CL-44Js and four DC-8-63s, employing a total of 22 crews (15 for the DC-8 and seven for the CL-44). The jet DC-8s concentrate on the Lagos and Far Eastern markets, carrying palletised loads four or five times each week. The CL-44s, which originally built up this major route, fly it perhaps twice a week on ad hoc charters. The airline has offices in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Vienna and Dubai and operations officers in Lagos and Karachi. Total workforce is now 410, and at the last count the airline employed people of 33 nationalities. Below: Cargolux operates four McDonnell Douglas DC-8-63Fs JOHN BELSON reports from Luxembourg Key to the DC-8 operation is a regular operating pattern—virtually a scheduled operation—in which pallet ised loads are used to keep turn- round times to a minimum. An arrangement with Cathay Pacific Air ways allows Cargolux to tranship cargo to CPA at Hong Kong, making for a more regular and efficient opera tion between Europe and Hong Kong. Cargolux marketing director Robert Arendal believes that the basic ingre dients for successful marketing are concessions, a reliable schedule and the right equipment and organisation. "The right move at the right time" can mean the difference between suo cess and failure, he says. Arendal cites as an example the Nigerian market, which grew rapidly as a result of harbour congestion, and stresses the value of permanently converting sur face cargo to air in such cases. The CL44J is a fine aircraft, says Olafsson, but the engines are expen sive to maintain and need a lot of nursing. A recent inspection by CL-44 manufacturer Canadair has extended the type's life to 60,000hr, and Cargo lux sees a need for one or two CL-44s for several more years. The Far East is no longer a CL-44 market, according to Olafsson, but the type is very use ful for developing new markets and carrying outsize cargo. It can carry 27 tons over 2,200 n.m. and its 240m3 >: l •-..,%r. *: -$<if :; :™S .i::lll:s;- •*„.»TP! .':'s"s*'»:.- £l5«,^ •••" ^&ifi''l :. 'v:.w.v.*.f? ... ...:.....'.' "': :" •' . .. :
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