Maximus Air picks up top industry award during successful Indian Cargo Expo
Vice President Commercial and acting Chief Operating Officer urges Indian Government to relax its protective stance towards foreign carriers and allow long term ACMI contracts to be established
Abu Dhabi, 10 February 2012 – Maximus Air’s receipt of a top industry award rounded off a highly successful debut at the biennial Air Cargo India Expo in Mumbai (1-3, February, 2012) during which the company appealed to the Indian Government to relax its protective stance towards foreign carriers and allow long term ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance) contracts to be established
The airline was the recipient of the STAT Times, ACMI Operator of the Year Award, one of several International Awards for Excellence in Air Cargo, presented by the leading multi-modal transport trade magazine, during a gala dinner at The Leela Kempinski Hotel on 2 February.
Mohamed Parkar Vice President Commercial and acting Chief Operating Officer on receiving the award on behalf of the company said: “We have grown up very quickly in our seven years of operation and to receive this excellence award for our ACMI services is a further strong endorsement of the hard work we have put into delivering a high quality and cost effective service which is enjoyed by a number of high profile clients around the world. “
Over the past year Maximus Air’s ACMI services have been used by Etihad Airways, DHL and ……
Parkar added that ACMI was the key focus for the airline during the exhibition.
“Maximus Air’s flexible fleet and our focus on developing the ACMI lease to operator market, means we are well placed to handle any size cargo into and out of the Indian Sub-Continent and this proved to be a strong USP when talking to the numerous potential clients who visited our stand,” he said. “Moreover, the UAE’s strategic location and in particular Abu Dhabi’s growing role as an important hub for servicing the neighbouring economies in the wider Arab world, were also seen as advantageous.”
He also added that there are very few freighter aircraft actually operating in what is now a very sizable Indian economy - contrast that situation with the abundance of freighter aircraft operated in China.
“The Indian government’s resistance to an open skies policy means the country is missing out on investment and expansion opportunities from airlines such as Maximus,” he said “We believe that opening the Indian market to outside competition as well as encouraging partnerships between foreign and local carriers will drive down the overall cost of air cargo transport and raise service levels - both of which will help stimulate Indian industry and drive the economy forward.”