Cargojet and LOT launch pioneering venture

LOT Polish Airlines in cooperation with Canadian all-cargo airline Cargojet, is planning to open the first direct freighter connection between Poland and North America.Cargojet has entered into a strategic aircraft wet lease agreement with LOT the Polish flag-carrier, effective from 7 November 2009.The return flights from Toronto to Katowice will be operated by a Boeing 767-200 Extended Range Freighter.The aircraft can take up to 45 tonnes of goods and will increase the capacity and ability to carry oversized cargo on transatlantic routes from Poland.The service will operate every Saturday and will provide the only direct freighter operation between North America and PolandIn a statement LOT said: “We believe, that because of the location of the airport and LOT’s wide network of scheduled flights and RFS [road feeder services] in Europe, our all cargo flights will be considered competitive to such services from airports in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria.“We believe that our new service will please our present clients and attract new ones. Together with Cargojet we expect to create a new quality of cargo flights between Poland and North America.”The cooperation with Cargojet also includes delivery of cargo to other destination ports in Canada.Ajay K Virmani, president and chief executive officer of the Cargojet Income Fund, also enthused about the potential. “We are very excited to be the first North American all cargo operator to introduce this new freighter service. The B767-200 Extended Range freighter aircraft will allow us to provide significant international air cargo capacity, as the global economy rebounds.“Cargojet will continue to work closely in assisting LOT to develop this market and continue to work closely with their team of dedicated air cargo professionals by providing a value added service to their customers.”

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