ANA Airline Management freighters to relocate from Ostend to Liege

TO REDUCE fuel costs, ANA Airline Management is relocating its freighter fleet of two MD-11Fs and a single B747-400F from Ostend to Liége from 29 May.
The company’s managed fleet operates a network of scheduled routes to and from Africa, as well as long-term and ad hoc charter flights on a worldwide basis.
The freighters have been operating from Ostend since 2007.
“Unfortunately due to the very competitive nature of the airfreight market we have been forced to look at ways to reduce costs wherever possible,” says ANA director Andy Leslie.
“The fuel price differential between the two Belgian airports is considerable and, with the fuel cost element exceeding 40 per cent of direct operating costs, this means there is no option but to make this move,” he adds.
ANA has a long and successful partnership with Ostend airport stretching back more than 20 years from its days of B707Fs and DC-10‐30Fs.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the airport authority and Avia Partner in Ostend for their support and hard work over the last two decades, but unfortunately the attraction of the lower fuel prices in Liége, combined with the availability of interlining freight with other cargo carriers based there, means that the advantages are now overwhelming,” he adds.
ANA Airline Management, in conjunction with its various airline partners including Astral Aviation, Atlas Air, Nordic Global, Allied Air and Euro Cargo offer a comprehensive route network and availability of cargo aircraft.
The move to Liége means the company will be able to increase both its aircraft fleet and destinations served once established at the new airport.