BA From United States of America, joined May 2000, 11097 posts, RR: 68 Posted (2 years 3 months 1 week 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 4663 times:
Last October, Lebanese cargo carrier Trans Mediterranean Airways (TMA) relaunched operations after a more than four year hiatus. Since that time, it's been renovating and expanding its facilities in Beirut and announced that it will resume air freight operations with an A300-600F.
According to a TMA Facebook group, the first A300-600F is in Louisana being serviced and will be delivered to TMA soon. Interestingly, it will be registered in the U.S. as N140MN. Some photos of it being serviced can be seen in this Facebook group:
Interestingly, this is one of the last A300s built, having been built in July 2006. It was previously in service with Japanese carrier, Galaxy Airlines as JA02GX.
BA From United States of America, joined May 2000, 11097 posts, RR: 68 Reply 2, posted (2 years 3 months 1 week 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 4572 times:
Quoting BasilFawlty (Reply 1): Great news, would be nice to see them back at AMS. Does anyone know what routes they will be flying?
AMS was a very important destination for TMA before they shut down, so I do hope they come back.
BA From United States of America, joined May 2000, 11097 posts, RR: 68 Reply 3, posted (2 years 3 months 1 week 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 4384 times:
dalce From Netherlands, joined Feb 2007, 1495 posts, RR: 8 Reply 4, posted (2 years 3 months 1 week 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 4312 times:
At least they still have an office at AMS. They are located in Triport 3.
Once every couple of weeks I see the guys there.
Hope to see them back operating at AMS.
flown on : F50,F70,CR1,CR2,CR9,E75,143,AR8,AR1,733,735,736,73G,738,753,744,319,320,321,AB6. Next flights AMS-ZRH-AMS on
ramzi From Canada, joined Oct 2006, 534 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (2 years 3 months 1 week 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 4258 times:
Excellent news. Let's hope they start with AMS, it should work out well with them since there is currently no direct connection between BEY and AMS. I also see them targeting the African market though.
There will come a time when you believe everything is finished - that will be the beginning.
airbuseric From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 3735 posts, RR: 52 Reply 7, posted (2 years 3 months 1 week 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 4243 times:
Great to see them back. TMA has experience with Airbus freighters; before they stopped their ops, they got to operate TF-ELS, an A310-F of Islandflug (currently with EY).
BA From United States of America, joined May 2000, 11097 posts, RR: 68 Reply 8, posted (2 years 3 months 1 week 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 3969 times:
Quoting airbuseric (Reply 7): Great to see them back. TMA has experience with Airbus freighters; before they stopped their ops, they got to operate TF-ELS, an A310-F of Islandflug (currently with EY).
Very true, however this was only wet-lease for several months in 2002. It was completely operated and mainted by Islandsflug crew.
This A300 will either be a dry-lease or they will own it, so TMA will be responsible for its maintenance and operations.
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need." - Khalil Gibran
BA From United States of America, joined May 2000, 11097 posts, RR: 68 Reply 10, posted (2 years 3 months 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 3818 times:
This aircraft is presently owned by Wells Fargo Bank Northwest NA Trustee, I wonder if they seized it after Galaxy Airlines shut down?
Here's another photo of the iconic TMA hangar taken in 2005:
Quoting FCKC (Reply 9): Do not know if they will come with A300-600F or 733F at Orly , but it is sure they will come back here.
733F?
I've only heard plans to get this A300 for the time being. The rendering of the 737 in TMA colors in the thread from last October is just a computer graphic, I don't think they are planning to get a 737 freighter, although it would be nice.
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need." - Khalil Gibran
ramzi From Canada, joined Oct 2006, 534 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (2 years 3 months 1 week 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 3735 times:
I'm gonna pop a question here. TMA clearly had the rights to destinations such as Orly, JFK, Schipol, and others. Once it resumes operations, will all of these rights be preserved? Are there some that expire for example? Conditional rights? I understand it will probably be difficult to pin point the exacts of TMA, but I'm sure someone here can explain to me how this system operates... For example, is there really a chance we will see TMA fly to JFK again? Is it definite that they can fly to AMS? Its interesting to know this, because every added aircraft in the future could mean one hell of a surprising route! And I'd say if it can, TMA will go towards destinations MEA does not serve, this way it will have no cargo competitors on the route (of course unless another airline is serving the destination).
On a side note, does Martinair still serve BEY? Cargolux?
Edit: Is there any information on where the 707s might be relocated when the hangar begins to be used again? Are they even operational?
[Edited 2010-02-13 12:50:42]
There will come a time when you believe everything is finished - that will be the beginning.
ramzi From Canada, joined Oct 2006, 534 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (2 years 3 months 1 week 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 3698 times:
Quote: BEIRUT - According Byblos Bank's Lebanon This Week, figures released by the Hariri International Airport (HIA) show that the number of airport passengers (arrivals, departures, transit) amounted to 369,694 in January 2010, up 20.4% year-on-year. The UAE accounted for 79,755 passengers, or 21.6% of total passenger activity. It was followed by Saudi Arabia with 40,701 passengers, or 11% of the total, France with 36,078 travelers ( 9.7%) and Kuwait with 29,512 travelers (8%). The total number of flights reached 5,134 in January 2010, up 28.4% year-on-year. Middle East Airlines registered 1,460 flights, accounting for 28.4% of the total. It was distantly followed by Royal Jordanian Airlines with 248 flights or 4.8% of the total, Etihad Airways with 158 flights, Emirates Airlines with 153 flights and Jazeera Airways with 142 flights.
The UAE was the biggest source and destination of traffic to Lebanon, as aircraft movement to and from the UAE totaled 843 flights, accounting for 16.5% of the total. Also, the HIA processed 5,369 metric tons of cargo in January 2010, of which 5,290 tons of freight and 79 tons of mail. Total cargo processed in January increased by 4.1% compared to the same month of 2009. MEA processed 1,392 tons of freight, of which 1,371 tons in regular freight and 21 tons in mail.
BA From United States of America, joined May 2000, 11097 posts, RR: 68 Reply 13, posted (2 years 3 months 1 week 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 3572 times:
Quoting ramzi (Reply 11): I'm gonna pop a question here. TMA clearly had the rights to destinations such as Orly, JFK, Schipol, and others. Once it resumes operations, will all of these rights be preserved? Are there some that expire for example? Conditional rights? I understand it will probably be difficult to pin point the exacts of TMA, but I'm sure someone here can explain to me how this system operates... For example, is there really a chance we will see TMA fly to JFK again? Is it definite that they can fly to AMS? Its interesting to know this, because every added aircraft in the future could mean one hell of a surprising route! And I'd say if it can, TMA will go towards destinations MEA does not serve, this way it will have no cargo competitors on the route (of course unless another airline is serving the destination).
I am pretty sure the old traffic rights they had are not valid anymore, but either way, access to Europe should not be a problem at all.
Quoting ramzi (Reply 11): On a side note, does Martinair still serve BEY? Cargolux?
Martinair Cargo does not, but Cargolux still does. They fly 3x weekly.
A UAE cargo carrier called Midex Airlines flies 3x weekly from AAN to BEY continuing to ORY using an A300B4-203F.
Quoting ramzi (Reply 11): Edit: Is there any information on where the 707s might be relocated when the hangar begins to be used again? Are they even operational?
The 707s won't ever fly again. They will probably be scrapped.
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need." - Khalil Gibran
BA From United States of America, joined May 2000, 11097 posts, RR: 68 Reply 15, posted (2 years 3 months 1 week 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 3454 times:
Quoting ramzi (Reply 14): They only operated for a short while. Or was it not even a scheduled service? I remember seeing them at the cargo terminal often after the 2006 war.
It was scheduled. They dropped BEY last year.
Quoting ramzi (Reply 14): Yup, remember the water canon salute on that one. It seems cargo tends to fly to ORY rather than CDG, any reason?
Cargo carriers often fly to secondary airports that have well developed cargo facilities. Airport authorities often try to encourage cargo carriers to fly to secondary airports to avoid adding congestion to their primary airports.
In Europe, Oostende and Maastricht are examples of smaller airports that are attractive for air freight.
Quoting ramzi (Reply 14): Obviously I was wondering if they could be started to drive away from where they're parked at.
They can tow them around. In fact, they've been moving them around a lot as different photos I see always show the 707s positioned differently around the TMA facilities.
[Edited 2010-02-13 14:47:28]
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need." - Khalil Gibran
ramzi From Canada, joined Oct 2006, 534 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (2 years 3 months 1 week 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 3375 times:
Quoting BA (Reply 15): It was scheduled. They dropped BEY last year.
Too bad.
Quoting BA (Reply 15): Cargo carriers often fly to secondary airports that have well developed cargo facilities. Airport authorities often try to encourage cargo carriers to fly to secondary airports to avoid adding congestion to their primary airports.
Interesting, and quite logical. Thanks for the info.
Quoting BA (Reply 15): different photos I see always show the 707s positioned differently around the TMA facilities.
I should drive by and take a look sometime soon.
There will come a time when you believe everything is finished - that will be the beginning.
BA From United States of America, joined May 2000, 11097 posts, RR: 68 Reply 17, posted (2 years 3 months 1 week 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 3338 times:
Quoting ramzi (Reply 16): I should drive by and take a look sometime soon.
And if you can, take a photo.
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need." - Khalil Gibran
BA From United States of America, joined May 2000, 11097 posts, RR: 68 Reply 19, posted (2 years 2 months 4 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 2645 times:
Here she is:
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need." - Khalil Gibran
Raffik From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2006, 1396 posts, RR: 7 Reply 20, posted (2 years 2 months 4 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 2574 times:
Wow , lovely striking livery! Well done TMA!
TMA's network was quite extensive, covering the globe. I'm sure they will expand but it would be wise for them to
follow MEA's lead by building on proven routes before branching out to less profitable destinations.
I wonder if MEA and TMA would ever merge or if MEA could buy TMA and operate MEA Cargo!
BA From United States of America, joined May 2000, 11097 posts, RR: 68 Reply 21, posted (2 years 2 months 4 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 2481 times:
Quoting Raffik (Reply 20): I wonder if MEA and TMA would ever merge or if MEA could buy TMA and operate MEA Cargo!
This was proposed a few years back, but MEA said they were not interested in the dedicated air freight market.
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need." - Khalil Gibran
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I was wondering if they could be started to drive away from where they're parked at.
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