MASkargo opens Penang Cargo Centre

Malaysia Airlines Cargo (MASkargo), the cargo division of Malaysia Airlines, has opened its Penang Cargo Centre (PCC).

Malaysia Airlines senior general manager (Cargo), JJ Ong, said the new facility marks another chapter in the continuing development of Penang International Airport as a regional cargo hub.

"We have been focussing a great deal on Penang, through investment of technology and human resources development over the last year or so, and this will continue in the coming months," Mr Ong said.

"As Penang is our second largest hub in Malaysia, the new measures will strengthen our logistics hub for the northern region. For the multinational companies in Penang, we offer efficient and innovative ways of transporting cargo."

The company said that its Priority Business Centre (PBC), opened in Kuala Lumpur International Airport last year, offers personalised services on all air cargo-related transactions, and helps cut turnaround times for processing, loading and unloading.

Apart from the introduction of the PBC, Mr Ong said, MASkargo has implemented various measures to improve its services in Penang.

These include the expansion of the warehouse, retraining of staff to familiarise themselves with the new processes and introduction of additional flights into Penang.

The cargo warehouse was expanded from 80,000 square feet previously to 100,000 square feet, thus allowing for 200,000 tonnes of cargo handling annually, compared to 160,000 tonnes previously.

MASkargo Penang operates six outbound (three flights to Europe and three to Japan) and three inbound freighter flights on a weekly basis.

It is also the ground handler for cargo airlines such as Korean Air, Lufthansa, China Airlines, EVA Air, UPS, KLM and Cargolux.

MASkargo operates two owned and three leased B747-200 freighters, and its freighter services currently cover KLIA, Penang, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Perth, Osaka, Shanghai, Amsterdam and Dubai and new destinations like Jakarta and London.