VIRGIN Atlantic Cargo saw its revenues rise 40 per cent year on year to GBP448 million (US$585.7 million) in 2021 as freight rates hit new highs, reports London's Air Cargo News.
The overall air cargo sector also benefited from high rates last year as a result of capacity shortages.
The carrier said that over the last couple of years it had re-focused its cargo business, offering cargo-only flights and charter services for the first time as much of virgin Atlantic's bellyhold network was affected by the Covid crisis.
The carrier said that over the course of the last two years it has grown cargo-only rotations by 60 per cent. In 2021 Virgin Atlantic Cargo operated 1,633 cargo dedicated sectors.
The airline is also about to open a new 10,500-square metre facility at Heathrow airport alongside its partner Delta Cargo and operated by handler dnata.
Dnata City East Phase 2 will begin operations in May and will run alongside the existing 22,500-square metre Phase 1 building located adjacent to the new facility.
Said Virgin Atlantic Cargo managing director Philip Wardlaw: 'The opening of the import facility comes at an exciting time for us, as the team secured a record performance for a second year in 2021.
'As we continue to work with our joint venture partner, Delta Cargo, on the successful operation of ground handling and export and import services, we recently extended our long-standing partnership with dnata for another five years,' he said.
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The overall air cargo sector also benefited from high rates last year as a result of capacity shortages.
The carrier said that over the last couple of years it had re-focused its cargo business, offering cargo-only flights and charter services for the first time as much of virgin Atlantic's bellyhold network was affected by the Covid crisis.
The carrier said that over the course of the last two years it has grown cargo-only rotations by 60 per cent. In 2021 Virgin Atlantic Cargo operated 1,633 cargo dedicated sectors.
The airline is also about to open a new 10,500-square metre facility at Heathrow airport alongside its partner Delta Cargo and operated by handler dnata.
Dnata City East Phase 2 will begin operations in May and will run alongside the existing 22,500-square metre Phase 1 building located adjacent to the new facility.
Said Virgin Atlantic Cargo managing director Philip Wardlaw: 'The opening of the import facility comes at an exciting time for us, as the team secured a record performance for a second year in 2021.
'As we continue to work with our joint venture partner, Delta Cargo, on the successful operation of ground handling and export and import services, we recently extended our long-standing partnership with dnata for another five years,' he said.
SeaNews Turkey
