MAC Holdings replaced Thai Airways' own cargo sales operation in Sri Lanka, and has provided it with representation in the republic of Maldives for the first time. The contract award followed a selection process that included 9 contenders.
Thai Airways operates four flights per week from Colombo to Bangkok, utilizing A330-300 aircraft with approximately 15 tons cargo capacity. Its network covers all major destinations throughout Japan, Southeast Asia, and Australasia. The airline also reaches a number of key points in Europe and the USA.
Says MAC Holdings' General Manager - Airline Division, Chamara Ranasinghe, 'The potential for Thai Cargo is immense here. There is a heavy demand for space on TG for chilled tuna to Japan. The second largest market is live crabs and lobsters for destinations such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Taipei. General cargo to Australasia and Southeast Asia is also significant.
'Thai is regarded as an excellent choice by the tuna and shellfish producers, due to its online services and same-day connections to Japan and to other key points. There is good potential for general cargo too: we are particularly targeting traffic of finished garments and high fashion goods to the US and Europe, which we will move both on the TG network and by establishing interline partnerships. We want to reduce Thai's dependence on perishables and increase the contribution which general cargo makes to their overall revenues.'
MAC Holdings, launched in 1996, is the exclusive Sri Lankan member of the EGSAC consortium of independent GSSAs. The company has offices in central Colombo and at the Bandaranaike International Airport (the only international airport), and has a representative office in the republic of Maldives.
