World Airways seeks cargo routes to China

Bad

Links?

Other glitches?

Notify Webmaster

World Airways

seeks cargo routes to China

World Airways is asking the U.S. Department of Transportation to approve

round-trip cargo service between San Jose, Calif., and the People's

Republic of China

The Peachtree City-based carrier announced Monday it had made application

with the DOT to fly to Shanghai and Guangzhou, China starting in 2006.

World would operate six round-trip cargo flights a week serving San Jose

and Houston using its wide-body MD-11F freighter aircraft.

The proposed schedule would offer four flights each week between San Jose

and Shanghai, and two flights to Guangzhou. All six flights would originate

at Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport. The filing responds to new

China route authority the DOT will award following a U.S. agreement with

the Chinese government.

"These services would expand the number of U.S. markets with access

to the People's Republic of China," said Randy Martinez, World's

president and chief executive officer. "Service to San Jose would link

the Silicon Valley, America's leading high technology region, with China's

emerging high technology industry."

Martinez said Houston, the nation's fourth-largest city, is recognized

as a center for several major industries including energy exploration and

production, financial services and cargo transportation."

"World's choice of San Jose makes excellent business sense for

both the airline and for Silicon Valley's airport," said San Jose

Mayor Ron Gonzales. "Expanding trade between China and the U.S. will

benefit our high technology industries, strengthen our local and national

economy, and improve our global competitiveness. I'm delighted to welcome

World Airways to San Jose."

Said Houston Mayor Bill White, "We are very excited about the possibility

of this new all-cargo service to China from Houston. I am sure the business

and shipping community would join me in expressing their desire for this

highly sought-after direct air link to China."

Scheduled cargo flights would enhance World's current services, diversifying

its widespread cargo and passenger charter business. World currently operates

charter cargo service out of Taipei, Taiwan for China Airlines and EVA Airways

to the United States, and the company recently announced it will provide

the first U.S. aircraft service into Xian, China, next month for customer

Lufthansa Cargo Charter, serving Nuremberg, Germany.

"Our 56-year-old company has unmatched global experience, typically

flying to more than 140 airports in 50 countries around the world in a given

year," Martinez said. "We also are leasing two additional MD-11

cargo aircraft in the spring of 2005 to expand our cargo capacity to meet

growing demand."

World Airways is a U.S.-certificated air carrier providing customized transportation

services for major international cargo and passenger carriers, the United

States military, and international leisure tour operators. Founded in 1948,

World operates a fleet of 16 wide-body aircraft to meet the specialized needs

of its customers. For information, visit www.worldairways.com.