VIRGIN Atlantic Cargo achieved 13 per cent growth in revenue in 2018 after clocking up revenues of GBP222 million (US$290.13 million) on the back of a six per cent increase in volumes to 244,000 tonnes, marking its best performance since 2010.
The airline said that 2018 had seen 'a succession of best-ever monthly and route performances, with growth achieved across the majority of commodities flown, with high value segments such as pharmaceuticals seeing a 50 per cent year-on-year increase in volume.'
During the year, the airline achieved new records for tonnage from the UK and the US, as well as on direct services from cities including Delhi and Los Angeles. December also saw its highest-ever daily import and export volumes through London Heathrow, reported London's Air Cargo News.
Virgin Atlantic also continued to develop its transatlantic partnership with Delta Cargo and benefited from extra revenues and volumes generated for Virgin Australia's expanding long-haul international network as a result of the airlines' sales and management agreement.
In 2018, Virgin Australia extended its network with the start of daily Sydney-Hong Kong services, which benefited from rising demand for e-commerce.
The introduction of double daily Johannesburg services by Virgin Atlantic at the end of October also contributed to a 15 per cent rise in volumes and 22 per cent boost in revenues on the route.
Virgin Atlantic cargo managing director Dominic Kennedy said: '2018 was an amazing year for us in terms of growth. We achieved particularly strong growth from June onwards, resulting in the best Q4 performance in our 34-year history, with positive contributions from across our network and partnerships.
'This was helped by the opening of our new service centres in Atlanta and Johannesburg, improved flown-as-booked performance, and closer engagement with our handling and joint venture partners. This result gives us the momentum we need to deliver a game-changing year for our cargo business in 2019.'
Looking ahead, the airline outlined a series of new investments, including additional capacity provided by the arrival of the airline's first four Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, a new route for cargo to Tel Aviv, the move to a new state-of-the-art facility at London Heathrow with partner Delta Cargo - doubling the size of the joint cargo operation at the airport to 335,000 square feet - and, investments in new digital technologies.
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The airline said that 2018 had seen 'a succession of best-ever monthly and route performances, with growth achieved across the majority of commodities flown, with high value segments such as pharmaceuticals seeing a 50 per cent year-on-year increase in volume.'
During the year, the airline achieved new records for tonnage from the UK and the US, as well as on direct services from cities including Delhi and Los Angeles. December also saw its highest-ever daily import and export volumes through London Heathrow, reported London's Air Cargo News.
Virgin Atlantic also continued to develop its transatlantic partnership with Delta Cargo and benefited from extra revenues and volumes generated for Virgin Australia's expanding long-haul international network as a result of the airlines' sales and management agreement.
In 2018, Virgin Australia extended its network with the start of daily Sydney-Hong Kong services, which benefited from rising demand for e-commerce.
The introduction of double daily Johannesburg services by Virgin Atlantic at the end of October also contributed to a 15 per cent rise in volumes and 22 per cent boost in revenues on the route.
Virgin Atlantic cargo managing director Dominic Kennedy said: '2018 was an amazing year for us in terms of growth. We achieved particularly strong growth from June onwards, resulting in the best Q4 performance in our 34-year history, with positive contributions from across our network and partnerships.
'This was helped by the opening of our new service centres in Atlanta and Johannesburg, improved flown-as-booked performance, and closer engagement with our handling and joint venture partners. This result gives us the momentum we need to deliver a game-changing year for our cargo business in 2019.'
Looking ahead, the airline outlined a series of new investments, including additional capacity provided by the arrival of the airline's first four Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, a new route for cargo to Tel Aviv, the move to a new state-of-the-art facility at London Heathrow with partner Delta Cargo - doubling the size of the joint cargo operation at the airport to 335,000 square feet - and, investments in new digital technologies.
WORLD SHIPPING