ACW - Air Cargo Week
05/29/2012
Virgin Cargo goes Western in the East
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Western Associates Group, one of Japan’s leading air cargo general sales agents, has established a new company, Gateway Partners, to provide dedicated representation of bellyhold space for Virgin Atlantic Cargo.
In support of its new contract with Virgin Atlantic, which is effective this month (May), Gateway Partners has put together an experienced team of cargo sales and marketing specialists that will devote their time to working with the airline’s customers in Japan.
This team will focus on maximising freight, courier and express revenues for shipments carried on Virgin Atlantic’s daily widebody flight from Tokyo’s Narita International airport to London Heathrow.
Dan Parker, vice president commercial at Virgin Atlantic Cargo, pointed out: "The appointment of Gateway Partners Inc (GPI) gives us a sales team in Japan that will focus only on Virgin Atlantic Cargo’s business and customers."
He went on: "As part of Western Associates Group, GPI has a strong domestic network across Japan and we believe this additional coverage will help us achieve the best possible results from our Narita gateway.
"I also want to express my gratitude to our former partner in Japan, IAS, for their support since we began operating from Tokyo," he added.
As Virgin Atlantic Cargo prepares to celebrate the 23rd anniversary of its services linking Tokyo and London, Parker noted: "Japan is an extremely important market for Virgin Atlantic and after the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck north-east Japan in 2011, we have seen some improvement in recent months.
"Exports to the UK and Europe remain challenging but cargo bound for the US has increased significantly."
He concluded: "The recovery of the Japanese automobile market and the carriage of specific electronics products such as solar energy equipment are encouraging signs and we are confident GPI will also give us a fresh outlook and approach in the market."
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