Forwarder Senator the latest to expand with Mexican freighter flight

Freight forwarder Senator International has expanded its freighter operations by adding a new Mexican destination at around the same time as Panalpina also added the airport.
The German firm said that the service, which launched in May, would operate between Frankfurt-Hahn and Querétaro in Mexico twice per week utilising a Boeing 747-400F, with calls in Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) in South Carolina.
"With this new Mexican destination, Senator International responds to the strong demand in this region," the company said. 
Panalpina also launched a B747 freighter call to Querétaro in May. The service links Mexico City and Guadalajara with forwarder’s airfreight hub in Huntsville, Alabama.
According to a Panalpina statement, the new Querétaro lane reflects its growth in the aerospace cargo segment and the “continuous adaptation of the company’s Charter Network to meet evolving market needs and customer demand in Mexico”.
In 2016,Senator launched its first ‘Atlantic Bridge’ service, flying between Frankfurt-Hahn and Greenville-Spartanburg in South Carolina to cater for automotive traffic.
The service was initially launched to cater for automotive traffic and has expanded over recent months on the back of increased demand.
During the month of June, Senator will operate eight roundtrip flights from GSP per week.
"Customers can expect tailor-made services with short transit times through the use of exclusive handling areas at both airports, efficient freight handling, faster customs clearance, including pre-carriage and follow-up," Senator said.
Querétaro is located in the Bajio region of Mexico’s, and is home to industries such as automotive and manufacturing; it also boasts one of the largest aerospace industry clusters in the world.
The new link to Querétaro was also welcomed by GSP airport.
“We are excited to support Senator International in their expansion of services,” said Kevin Howell, GSP senior vice president and chief operating officer. “These new flights to Querétaro are another opportunity for manufacturers to move materials, parts and products quickly and more efficiently.
"More and more companies are discovering GSP is a great alternative to the slower turnaround time at the crowded traditional air cargo gateways.”
QRO service departs from GSP on Sundays and return to GSP on Mondays. Boeing 747-400 aircraft is used for the service.
“Senator International is committed to meeting the highest standards of dependability and superior customer service,” said Tim-Oliver Kirschbaum, CEO for Senator International. “GSP and Cerulean Commercial Aviation are helping us meet the demands of our clients by providing safe and efficient cargo handling services.”
GSP’s cargo traffic numbers have consistently increased over the past 18 months. The airport’s cargo numbers were up nearly 42% in March to more 5,125 tonnes.
GSP is preparing for future cargo growth by constructing a new $15m air cargo apron. This new aircraft apron will be able to accommodate simultaneous Boeing 747-800 freighter operations.
The airport district will also break ground on a new 100,000-square-foot air cargo facility later this summer. The new cargo apron and air cargo facility are scheduled to be in operation by the spring of 2019.
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