Key contributors to the year's increased business were Nippon Cargo Airlines (which saw three-fold growth over the previous year), Etihad and CAL CargoAirLine (up 20%) and EVA Air (up 10%). All RTW client carriers enjoyed at least 5% increases in revenue. The company's increase in tonnage achieved for its client carriers has taken it to the number one slot for GSSAs in Switzerland.
2007 saw the Swiss airfreight market as a whole increase over eight percent, while the Swiss economy grew by 3.6%. Despite signs of a slight slowdown in 2008 (the economy is predicted to show 1.7% growth this year), RTW is forecasting another very good year, with joint pitches with freight agent customers for major pharma, chemical and fashionwear business looking likely to succeed, bringing significant additional high-yield traffic.
RTW is now actively looking for a trans-Atlantic bellyhold carrier to complement its cargo portfolio, says the company's MD Walter Richner: 'For the time being RTW can only offer maindeck capacity to the USA, but many of our customers have consolidations and other regular traffic which require daily departures. This is a gap in our coverage that we would really like to fill. We have the customers and they have the traffic, but right now we are unable to assist them.'
RTW has recently broken into the passenger business, opening a new Zurich city office to sell seats on EVA Air, which it already represents for cargo. RTW is looking for more passenger carrier clients, and also wants to take on tour operators and other related products.
RTW has offices in Geneva, Basel and Zurich. The growing EGSAC network now has 31 partners with over 70 offices in 34 countries.
