Utilising full-cargo aircraft for operations, Grandstar will mainly provide international and domestic China scheduled and non-scheduled air cargo transportation services. Currently, Grandstar has established branches in Europe and Shanghai and plans to expand to major cities around the world in the future.
Following the inaugural flight to Europe with the first B747-400F, Grandstar Cargo will add US destinations along with other cities when the second B747-400F and two A300-600Fs are added to its fleet during 2008.
Grandstar is headquartered and based in Tianjin, which is fast growing as one of the most important hubs for airfreight in China, located as it is near Beijing. Tianjin has also been designated by the government as a massive logistics and manufacturing hub for the region.
“Grandstar Cargo not only provides a favorable platform for cargo collection and distribution in Tianjin and its surrounding area, which enables Tianjin Airport to have a broader route network, but also accelerates the establishment of air logistics center in China and even Northeast Asia,” Grandstar said in a statement.
The carrier is focusing on domestic and international cargo and mail transport, but will also be involved in related businesses such as: leasing of aircraft for self-use; repair and maintenance of self-used aircraft; aircraft charter business; inter-airline agency services; import and export services and related groundservices.
“Grandstar Cargo will set a brand-new standard for China’s air cargo industry, and become the leader of cargo carriers in China. Grandstar, in combination with Korean Air’s cargo knowledge and expertise as the world’s top cargo airline for 4 consecutive years,” said Lee Kwang Sa, president & CEO of Grandstar Cargo International Airlines Co., Ltd.
Grandstar Cargo International Airlines Co., Ltd. was established in December 2007 as a joint venture cargo airline among Sinotrans Air Transportation Development Co., Ltd. (51 per cent), Korean Airlines Co., Ltd. (25 per cent), Hana Capital Co., Ltd. (13 per cent), and Shinhan Capital Co., Ltd. (11 per cent).