Algeria Freight Forwarding Services
Air & Sea Freight Between Algeria and the UK

Muscat-Dubai road feeder expected to remain part of Oman Air network

The emergence of Muscat, in Oman, as a back-up air cargo hub this year, notably for DHL, was a prime example of how the industry adapted to disrupted airspace and airport closures across the Gulf and wider Middle East region. The conflict also saw national carrier Oman Air come into its own, keeping cargo moving with the creation of a daily road feeder service (RFS) between the Oman capital and Dubai. In an interview with The Loadstar, Mike Duggan, head of cargo at Oman Air (above), reflected on the contingency planning and assessed the likely lasting effects of the regional conflict on the carrier's cargo business. "Muscat played an important role during the disruption earlier this year, with additional cargo flows moving through Oman as the industry responded to changing conditions across the region. While some traffic had returned to its usual routes as other hubs reopened, there were still cargo flows through Muscat that were not previously part of the network he explained. "The ongoing uncertainty means some companies continue to view Muscat as a reliable hub for their supply chains." The RFS continues to operate daily between Muscat and the UAE, transporting a broad range of perishables, general cargo, and goods that cannot be accommodated on narrow-body passenger aircraft. "It has demonstrated its value operationally, and from a customs and security perspective. We now expect it to remain an established part of our network." Oman Air Cargo had continued to assess narrow-body freighter options to add capacity on key markets, particularly Mumbai and Dhaka, in Bangladesh, Mr Duggan revealed. "Both are strong cargo markets and additional freighter capacity would feed into Oman Air's wide-body passenger network, including services to Europe." In the meantime, Oman Air has introduced wide-body passenger aircraft on some Mumbai and Dhaka services to provide additional cargo capacity to meet current demand while it considers options for the future. The carrier has yet to disclose its cargo traffic figures for the first half, but Mr Duggan described the performance during the period as "positive", rather than exceptional. "The airline was already operating with high (cargo) load factors before disruption hit the region, which naturally limited the scope for significant additional volume growth. "Demand has strengthened, while pricing has also increased, reflecting higher operating costs, particularly for fuel," he added.

ACS revenues boom as cargo charter demand rises

Charter broker Air Charter Service (ACS) has seen its revenues significantly increase in the first half of the year, led by rising demand in its charter division. The company, which operates out of 43 offices worldwide, saw revenues increase by 38% year on year in the first half of the year to more than $845m. The improvements were led by ACS' cargo division, which saw charter numbers increase by 49% compared with last year and revenues grow 38% in part as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. ACS chairman and founder Chris Leach said: "In part, these increases were due to supply chain disruptions caused by the conflict in Iran, the repercussions of Storm Marta with the port closures that it caused in Morocco, as well as Venezuelan relief efforts, but events such as these individually make up a small proportion of what we do, indicating strong underlying growth." Leach added that regionally, the company saw particular growth in its offices across the US, Europe and Greater China. The results were also boosted by the opening of six new offices last year, while the company is hoping that the three offices that it has opened this year - in Brussels, Monaco, and Stuttgart - will also support performance. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation in the first half of 2026 were up between 35-40% year on year across its three divisions - cargo, group charter and private jets. "Every year we talk about how exceptional events inflate our numbers; however, we are finding that we are being called upon when there are spikes in demand with increasing regularity, from sporting events to natural disasters to political unrest," added Leach. "We are increasingly becoming the 'go-to' for large organisations and governments, as we are often one of the only companies able to deliver such complex projects. "We can't foresee what we will face in the next six months, but we are confident that we are in a strong position to tackle whatever happens in the second half." The strong start to the year, follows on from improved performance in the 2025/26 fiscal year.

Hong Kong Air Cargo launches Hong Kong-Mumbai freighter service

Hong Kong Air Cargo has launched a dedicated freighter service between Hong Kong and Mumbai as part of its global expansion plans. Data from Flightradar24 shows that Hong Kong Air Cargo operated a flight from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai to Hong International Airport on 6 August. Hong Kong Air Cargo's charter programme for the period of 1 August to 31 August includes a Hong Kong - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International service. However, Air Cargo News (ACN) reported last month that Hong Kong Air Cargo planned to launch charter flights between Hong Kong International and Navi Mumbai International from August. ACN has requested clarification from Hong Kong Air Cargo on its route(s) between Hong Kong and Mumbai. The launch of flights between Hong Kong and Mumbai comes within two months of Aeroprime Group's appointment as Hong Kong Air Cargo's cargo General Sales & Service Agent (GSSA) in India. Raymond Chen, vice president, commercial spokesperson for Hong Kong Air Cargo said: "The launch of our freighter service from Mumbai marks an important step in our India growth strategy. "Mumbai is a key export hub, and we are pleased with the rapid progress achieved alongside Aeroprime Group. Their support have played a vital role in expanding our footprint, and we look forward to strengthening our network and delivering greater value to customers." Abhishek Goyal, executive director, Aeroprime Group, said: "Launching Hong Kong Air Cargo's freighter service from Mumbai within just two months of our partnership reflects the shared commitment and agility of both teams. "Mumbai is one of India's most strategic cargo gateways, and this expansion enables us to offer customers greater capacity, enhanced connectivity, and reliable cargo solutions. "We thank Hong Kong Air Cargo and our partners for their continued trust and look forward to further expanding the airline's presence in India."