CAMAir News

Businesses back reintroduction of air freight service

16.02.2010

A MOVE to reintroduce air freight coming into Durham Tees Valley Airport after a gap of several years is attracting a groundswell of support.

A number of companies have come forward to welcome the decision by KLM to add freight on two of its three daily inbound flights to Durham Tees Valley Airport on a six-month trial.

They say the service will provide a massive boost for the local economy – and end the “utter nonsense” of local companies having to import via London Heathrow, then by road.

“It could mean next-day delivery, when the same order currently takes five days. That’s a serious time and cost-saving to my business,” said Steve Cooper, of Bishop Auckland-based CCTV and surveillance company Cyberline Communications.   

KLM is offering the freight service in partnership with Camair Freight Services, the last remaining freight forwarding company based at Durham Tees Valley.

“We have remained here, supporting the airport, because we can see the need for a local company providing a local service for the local business community, on the doorstep” said managing director Paul Bramley. “By the same token, that local business community has remained loyal to us and are now coming forward to support KLM’s service.”

The date of the first freight flight is still to be confirmed by Air France Cargo-KLM Cargo, but the service will cater for air freight shipments of up to 70kg in weight direct from Amsterdam.

Andrew Galloway, KLM cargo account manager, said the service would initially run for a trial period of six months, with options to extend the service depending on demand.

“Niche market industries in the Tees Valley, including shipping, petro-chemical and pharmaceutical, often require fast shipping of smaller, high value items, making the direct flight from Amsterdam appealing for the local businesses,” he said.

Last year, AF-KL Cargo successfully introduced freight services on regional routes across the UK, including Edinburgh, Birmingham, Aberdeen and Newcastle and says the opening of the new network point at Durham Tees Valley will further improve coverage of important destinations throughout the UK.

John Cooper, owner of Billingham-based Wynyard Import Consultants, sources sophisticated electronic components in the Far East for security surveillance systems manufactured in the UK – components which are often needed urgently. He is backing KLM’s new service and is thrilled to see the current situation near an end.

He said: “It typically takes two days for me to import items from my main supplier in the Far East to Heathrow, but then up to a further three days to get those same items forwarded via Newcastle to Teesside, the last stage by road. That’s an utter nonsense in this day and age.
 
“We are a small company and only import perhaps 20 or 30 items a year. But multiply that by the many other companies in this area who are in the same situation, then it begins to be something quite significant.

“The Tees Valley area needs this – I urge businesses to use the service and make sure it is retained.”

Cyberline boss Steve Cooper said his company currently waits up to five days to receive digital recording equipment from China.

But KLM’s decision to reintroduce freight at Durham Tees Valley, coupled with his supplier’s plan to open an office close to Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport, means he is potentially looking forward to a next-day delivery service.

“Quite simply, it will transform the way we work,” says Mr Cooper, who employs 26 people in Bishop Auckland. “It will mean less outlay on stock, quicker response time on installations, and no teams sitting around waiting for parts – it will be a godsend.”

Camair Freight Services is owned by Casper Shipping, Teesside’s biggest shipping agency. The agency handles up to 130 vessels a month at Teesport and says Durham Tees Valley is vital to Teesport’s role as “the northern gateway for freight”.

Michael Shakesheff, managing director of Casper, says: “If ships require urgent parts, their owners don’t want them sitting in dock, losing money, waiting for the parts to arrive. They need to know they can get them next day – and that’s what air freight into Durham Tees Valley will mean.

“Tees Valley companies having to receive freight which is flown into London Heathrow and then transported north by road, despite having an airport on their doorstep, is like shipping companies ignoring Teesport, one of the best ports in the UK, and landing all their goods in Felixstowe to be then transported by road. It just wouldn’t happen.”

Any businesses wishing to support the new freight service at Durham Tees Valley can contact Camair Freight Solutions Ltd on 01325 335600.

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