Maximus to retain regional lead with Dh37m fleet overhaul
Maximus Air Cargo, the Abu Dhabi headquartered specialist heavy-lifter of the aviation industry is looking to strengthen its hold on the Middle East airfreight market by revamping its fleet.
The carrier is undertaking a Dh37m overhaul of its Ilyushin fleet, a move that will help extend their operating lifespan initially by seven years.
The three IL76TD freighters were produced in 1992 and acquired by Maximus in 2005.
The overhaul and upgrade programme is being undertaken with Aviazapchast in conjunction with the Ilyushin Design Bureau.
One aircraft has already been completed at the Ryazan Plant 360 in the Russian Federation, work on the second is underway, and the third will fly to Russia in January. Each comprehensive overhaul takes six months to complete.
"Safety is the first issue," said Maximus President and Chief Executive Fathi Hilal Buhazza. "Our three aircraft are among the very few to be overhauled. Very rarely do any of the other IL76-TDs operating from many ex-Soviet countries receive the same care and attention. More restrictions have been placed by EU legislation on ageing aircraft on safety and security. Given our substantial investment in life extending major overhaul programme, this only benefits the Maximus air cargo fleet and will continue to do so in the next seven years and beyond," he said.
The IL76TDs have a 46-tonne payload and have a fully laden range of 2,450 nautical miles.
Aircraft in the Maximus fleet are customised for rear loading and have roof gantry cranes installed. They operate in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia. Their ability to accommodate outsize loads, together with the built-in overhead crane system, enables them to be loaded and unloaded to and from standard road haulage vehicles without the need for ground handling equipment.
The Maximus IL76TD fleet is licensed under the Ukraine Air Alliance Air Operators Certificate, meeting ICAO requirements and can be operated to Stage II acceptable airports worldwide.
This type of aircraft is mainly used for operating humanitarian flights and commercial charters. "They have a very good track record and have enabled us to acquire a niche market share in world air cargo," said Buhazza.
Maximus Air Cargo recently announced that its gross sales in the first half of 2008 totalled Dh167.1m compared to Dh174.1m for 2007, signifying an almost five-fold increase in aircraft hours sold during the first half of 2008,
At the same time, tonne kilometres flown grew 5.5 times, producing gross revenues 43 per cent ahead of target. Flight hours for the period reached 3,685, up 487 per cent on the corresponding period, while tonne kilometres rose 555 per cent to 154,700. "We are now on track to reach our target of $100m in sales during 2008," said Buhazza.
The carrier's highlights of the year to date include securing additional short-and medium-term contracts on both Airbus A300-600 aircraft – flying regular scheduled services on behalf of Etihad Airways, Air France and Sudan Airways – and concluding a formal co-operation agreement with the UAE Red Crescent Authority with Maximus appointed as exclusive partner for air relief support. Founded in 2005, Maximus is the largest freighter-only air operator in the Middle East.