Cargoitalia wins Africa West feeder contract

Lome based Africa West Cargo has awarded Cargoitalia - the Italian all-cargo flag carrier - with a weekly ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance) programme to provide a European link to its network via its main hub. The contract begins immediately, and runs until further notice. 

Under the contract, Cargoitalia’s MD11F will operate Milan-Liege-Lome every Sunday. On Mondays, the service will either return to Milan or, on request, continue to Bamako, Niamey and Liege, before returning to Milan at 21:00. 

Africa West Cargo operates scheduled DC9 freighters from its Lome hub to Bamako, Niamey, Cotonou, Douala, Brazzaville, Pointe Noir and Bangui. It has recently added Freetown and Monrovia to its network. The airline also offers ad hoc charter capacity to other internal African destinations including Abidjan, Conakry, Malbo, Yaounde, Kinshasa, Ndjamena, Libreville and Banjul using A300-600 aircraft. 

Says Cargoitalia Commercial Director Roberto Gilardoni: “This is a contract that works well for both parties. Africa West will receive the same ultra-reliable service from Europe for which Cargoitalia has become known since its re-launch, and it will also gain access to the USA and Far East markets served by our scheduled flights. At the same time, Cargoitalia now has regular access to a number of key African destinations.”