BAE Systems Regional Aircraft announced recently that Airgo Airlines S.A, of Athens, Greece has become the latest ATP Freighter operator and began operating last month from its operating base of Athens International Airport.
Managed by a team of experienced Greek airline professionals, Airgo Airlines is a new start-up carrier that aims to take advantage of the growing need for a dedicated and professional regional all cargo carrier to operate between Greece, the new accession countries of the European Union in the region such as Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania, and the Balkan states such as the republics of the former Yugoslavia, Albania and also into Turkey.
"There is fast-growing freight traffic in this south-eastern European area, but very few air cargo carriers," Airgo said. "The Balkans and Southeast Mediterranean areas have to be considered as a new emerging niche market for air cargo. Airgo Airlines has been established to accommodate air freight operation in the broader area taking into consideration the geographical position and the proximity of its hub base in Athens."
Airgo’s initial operations with the 8 tonne capacity freighter are concentrated on ad hoc cargo flights in the area, but in the medium-to-long term it intends to work in commercial collaboration with major forwarders and integrators in Greece and in the wider Balkan region.