Kitty Hawk Broadens Approach

      In Florida, USA right now the great summer sport, baseball is in spring training sessions, as teams add new players and get into shape for the big season ahead.
     Same thing applies to Kitty Hawk Cargo the Dallas-based carrier that is building solid business in gateways all over North America as the carrier readies a big step forward bringing onboard a true cargo professional and good guy to boot—Donald A. Premel who joins the team as managing director of business development.
     Kitty Hawk is an innovator, a smart company that has grown gradually adding stations and services.
Last year the carrier became the first operator of the excellent cargo lifter, B737-300SF.
     Prior to joining Kitty Hawk, Don Premel established a solid air cargo career dating back to 1973 at Continental Airlines Cargo where he held various posts in cargo sales and operations.
     Always a hands on type and air cargo strategist as well Don developed various cargo programs at CO while directing sales and service personnel in 17countries throughout North and South America.
     He also headed up Continental's Global Alliance Partnership Program that is a key interactive force between the airline and a variety of freight forwarders and logistic companies.
     “Kitty Hawk is an exciting proposition,” Don said.
     “There is room to grow and an innovative spirit and attitude to develop many new value-added products and services as Kitty Hawk further strengthens its competitive position in the global air freight market.”
     Kitty Hawk is a 30-year old air cargo provider with overnight services via a fleet of seven B737-300SF and 20 B727 freighters.
     Last October 31, the company added scheduled time-definite coast-to-coast less-than-truckload (LTL) ground freight transportation to major business centers and surrounding communities throughout North America, including Alaska, Hawaii, Toronto, Canada, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
     From the American heartland Kitty Hawk operates a state-of-the-art 239,000 square-foot cargo handling facility hub set up in Fort Wayne, Indiana
     “Our air and ground cargo networks and guaranteed overnight time-definite service are ideal for heavy-weight shipments (over 150 lbs), special goods with unique dimensions, perishables, animals and other valuable shipments.
     “All of us feel the best is yet to come.” (dpremel@kha.com)

bmi-Baby!     No not Austin Powers, but Pat Bohan, bmi general manager cargo sales & marketing (pat.bohan@flybmi.com) stops by for a chat at JFK as part of an extensive “out to meet the customers,” visit in USA last week.     Actually as a nearly twenty-year veteran of the airline, the energetic Bohan who worked his way up from the ramp, must at times feel as if he has been in the airline game since he was a baby himself.     But yet to come “as bits and pieces” come into play, and the USA and EU draw closer to some kind of open skies deal which will sweep in big changes for bmi with its operations base at LHR.     “Our long haul routes are producing excellent cargo business especially from Chicago and also via London to and from Riyadh, Mumbai and elsewhere.     “From London (LHR) shippers find quick connections to our entire system via a fantasy of flight choices from Heathrow.”     “Here in USA we are moving ahead in giant steps with John Ryan, (john.ryan@flybmi.com) our cargo manager in North America.     “John brings a great professionalism, total U.S./UK market knowledge and a “can do” attitude to his endeavors that has changed the air cargo landscape for us here.”     Pat Bohan departs, moving out to other adventures that will include a cameo at the CNS Conference in May and other appearances.     He leaves a card that says “Come rain or shine.”     The best kind of new friend, baby! (Geoffrey)