Cargolux Airlines will begin full freighter service from Luxembourg to India by way of Oman, beginning April 15. Oman Air and Cargolux signed a letter of intent March 9, with a formal signing to take place April 16 when the first Cargolux freighter arrives in Muscat, Oman.
The agreement enables Cargolux to use Oman Air’s facilities in Muscat, Salalah and Sohar. It is Oman Air’s most recent move in expanding its cargo operations. The Times of Oman reported that the move followed Oman’s launch of pan-Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) and pan-European trucking services, as well as a joint cargo service with DHL operating between Oman and Dubai.
After the program rollout, Cargolux plans to increase frequencies to Oman to several each week, with connections to Chennai, Mumbai and Hyderabad in India. Other cities in India are under consideration as well as connections to Europe, China, Africa and the U.S. Oman Air will give access to Cargolux to use the bellies of its passenger planes which fly to 11 destinations in India and three in Pakistan, and destinations in Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
“Oman Air has extensive and long-term experience of operating flights to numerous destinations across the Indian sub-continent and East Africa. Cargolux is a leader in air freight and offers huge capacity,” said Oman Air’s chief executive officer Paul Gregorowitsch. “This agreement, therefore, represents an important strategic partnership that will give an important boost to Oman’s standing as a major hub for the movement of freight between Europe, Asia and Africa.”