Cargolux

From Free net encyclopedia

Image:Cargolux B747-400F.jpg Cargolux (Cargolux Airlines International) is a cargo airline based in Luxembourg. It is one of the largest scheduled all-cargo airlines in Europe with a global network. Charter flights and third party maintenance are also operated. Its main base is Luxembourg-Findel Airport.

1 Code Data
2 History
3 Incidents and accidents
4 Services
5 Fleet
6 External links

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Code Data

IATA Code: CV
ICAO Code: CLX
Callsign: Cargolux

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History

The airline was established in March 1970 by Luxair, the Salen Shipping Group, Loftleidir Icelandic and various private interests in Luxembourg. It started operations in May 1970 with one Canadair CL-44 freighter with services from Luxembourg to Hong Kong.

Over the next two years, the airline grew, as did their public visibility. In 1973, Cargolux had five Canadair CL-44's and made the leap into the jet age by acquiring a Douglas DC-8 jet. This enabled the company to speed up their cargo deliveries. In 1974, Loftleidir Icelandic and Cargolux joined their maintenance and engineering departments together, and by 1975, Cargolux enjoyed the new facilities of new central offices and two plane hangars.

In 1978 the airline began to take shape into the company it is today. The Canadair CL-44's began to be retired and the airline ordered its first Boeing 747s. In that same year they also began flying to other places in Asia, as well as to the United States. In 1979, as the company concluded its first decade, their first Boeing 747's were delivered.

In 1982, China Airlines became the first airline company to sign a strategic alliance with Cargolux. 1983 saw the introduction of CHAMPS (Cargo Handling And Management Planning) and the start of some charter passenger flights for the Hajj pilgrimage.

1984 saw the departure of the last Douglas DC-8 in the fleet and the addition of a third Boeing 747. Lufthansa bought a 24.5% share of the airline in 1987 and Luxair increased their share to 24.53%.

1988 saw the birth of Lion Air, a passenger charter airline that was set up by both Cargolux and Luxair. The airline had two Boeing 747 jets but Cargolux's venture into the charter airline world prove unsuccessful and soon Lion Air folded.

Despite that setback, Cargolux made it into the 1990's in proper financial shape. They added two more Boeing 747's in 1990, as a way of celebrating their 20th anniversary, and in 1993, three Boeing 747-400F's (F is for Freighter) arrived at Luxembourg. 1995 saw Cargolux have a year round celebration because of its 25th anniversary and Heiner Wilkens was named CEO and President.

In 1997 Luxair was able to increase their share to 34%, while in September 1997 Lufthansa sold their 24.5% to Sair Logistics and Swiss Cargo made a cooperation agreement with the Luxembourg company. 1998 saw Sair Logistics increase their share to 33%.

By 1999 Cargolux's fleet had reached double figures, with ten Boeing 747s. In 2000 a route was opened to Seoul, South Korea, and in 2001 Wilkens decided to step down as President and CEO of the air company.

The airline is owned by Luxair (34.9%), SAirGroup (33.7%), Luxembourg Financial Corporations (31.1%) and other shareholders (0.3%) (at January 2005).

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Incidents and accidents

In January 2006, the nose gear of a plane in park position was accidentally retracted. Nobody was injured. The incident occurred at Shanghai Pudong airport.

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Services

Cargolux operates freight services to the following international destinations (at January 2005): Abidjan, Abu Dhabi, Accra, Auckland, Baku, Bangkok, Barbados, Barcelona, Beirut, Bogotá, Budapest, Calgary, Chennai, Chicago, Curitiba, Damascus, Dubai, Glasgow, Guadalajara, Helsinki, Hong Kong, Houston, Huntsville, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Karachi, Kinshasa, Komatsu, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, Lagos, Latacunga, Los Angeles, Lusaka, Maastricht, Manila, Melbourne, Mexico City, Milan, Nairobi, New York, Panama City, Rio de Janeiro, San Francisco, Santiago, São Paulo, Seattle, Seoul, Shanghai, Sharjah, Singapore, Taipei, Tehran.

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Fleet

The Cargolux fleet consists of 14 Boeing 747-400F aircraft (at November 2005).

November 16th, 2005 : Cargolux, based in Luxembourg, has ordered 10 747-8 Freighters and will take delivery of the first 747-8F in third-quarter 2009. It also holds purchase rights for 10 additional airplanes.

March 10th, 2006: Cargolus, based in Luxembourg, has ordered two additional Boeing 747-400F Freighters and will take delivery in 2007 and 2008. Cargolux Airlines has selected Rolls-Royce RB211 engines to power the new planes. [1]

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