Freighter Tri-MG Airlines lands at Changi Airport

Changi posted 15.8% airfreight growth in first seven months of 2010, having moved 1.04mln tonnes.

Changi Airport Group on Monday welcomed Tri-MG Airlines as the Indonesian cargo carrier commenced scheduled operations at Changi Airport. The addition of Tri-MG into Changi’s family of airlines will see an additional 20 weekly scheduled freighter flights operating between Singapore and Indonesia, further strengthening Changi’s cargo connectivity in the region, according to a Changi Airport report.

Tri-MG will operate 12 weekly flights between Singapore and Jakarta, and eight weekly flights between Singapore and Balikpapan. This takes the total number of weekly scheduled freighter flights between Singapore and Indonesia to 67. Tri-MG’s fleet of B732F aircraft will have a capacity of around 15 tonnes each. Including Tri-MG, a total of 15 all-cargo carriers currently operate at Changi.

Changi Airport Group’s Division Head (Cargo and Logistics Development), Albert Lim, said, “We warmly welcome Tri-MG Airlines to the vibrant air cargo community at Changi Airport. Tri-MG’s scheduled freighter operations will further enhance Singapore's leading position as a global air cargo hub. We look forward to working closely with Tri-MG to identify new market opportunities and support their growth plans in the region.”

Tri-MG's Executive Chairman, Mr Mohd Yunos Ishak, said, “We are thankful to CAG for this opportunity to start our first international scheduled flights from Indonesia to Singapore.”

Changi’s cargo throughput has seen encouraging growth in the first seven months of 2010. From January to July 2010, 1.04 million tonnes of airfreight were moved at Changi Airport. This represents a 15.8% increase year-on-year. Similarly, airfreight tonnage between Singapore and Indonesia has grown 13% from January to July 2010, compared Media Bulletin to 2009. Tri-MG is the second cargo carrier, after Malaysia’s Transmile Air, to begin operations at Changi in 2010.

Changi now serves 95 airlines operating 5,100 weekly scheduled flights to some 200 cities in 60 countries and territories.