Asia Cargo Network begins MENA operations from Bahrain

The operations will be conducted under the MENA Cargo brand and will be entirely controlled by ACN in the future since it holds an AOC in Bahrain, enabling the extension of routes to the MENA region.

Asia Cargo Network begins MENA operations from Bahrain
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Asia Cargo Network (ACN) group, Southeast Asia's leading air cargo charter services provider, and MENA Aerospace, a Bahraini aviation services company, have announced the launch of their operations in the MENA region from the Kingdom of Bahrain.

“As part of its growth strategy, ACN invested $135 million USD to become the largest stakeholder in MAE Aircraft Management (MENA Aerospace's aircraft and management division) with a 49% stake during the 2022 Bahrain International Airshow,” said the official release from Bahrain Economic Development Board.

The operations of the partnership will be conducted under the MENA Cargo brand, the freight cargo subsidiary of MAE, and will be entirely controlled by ACN in the future since it holds an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) in Bahrain, enabling the extension of routes to the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region.

Iman Marco, MAE Aircraft Management – Managing Director, MENA Cargo commented, “We are excited to start our MENA operations in Bahrain. The Kingdom’s advanced infrastructure and its strategic location at the crossroads between Asia, Africa, and Europe will play a vital role in ACN’s growth plans to expand and serve our customers in the MENA region and beyond.”

The ACN-MEA strategic collaboration deployed two B737-300F aircraft, which are now in service across the MENA continents, connecting the GCC and Africa. According to the Bahraini operator, plans to complete the year with five additional freighter aircraft comprised of a few units of B737-800F and B767-300F aircraft that will provide connectivity between the Middle East, Africa, all of Asia, and European markets continue on track.

These long-range wide-body B767-300F aircraft will increase Bahrain airport’s cargo activities with transshipments from all over the world before regional distribution is performed with the operator’s own narrow-body freighters. The partnership is targeting to become the main cargo operator and develop extensive network cargo flights within the region to support the growing demands and enhance Bahrain airport’s presence as a regional hub.

Ahmed Sultan, Executive Director for Business Development of Manufacturing, Transport and Logistics, Bahrain Economic Development Board said, “We are pleased to see key transport and logistics players call Bahrain home to benefit from the Kingdom’s competitive advantages such as our free trade agreements with 22 countries, best-value operating costs for a logistics business in the region, superb infrastructure, and strong connectivity by air, land and sea.”

The logistics industry is a key sector under the Kingdom's Economic Recovery Plan, which aims to position Bahrain as one of the top 20 global destinations for logistic services by 2030, and to boost the sector's GDP contribution to 10% from 4.7%.

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