Malaysia-based cargo airline Raya Airways has taken delivery of its first Boeing 767-200 Freighter, enabling the carrier to expand its service network.
The airline has already put the 767 into service, flying it from Subang to Hong Kong and Jakarta.
“The delivery highlights the growing demand for capacity to serve the intra-Asian region in particular, with a commitment to operate a modern and efficient fleet,” said Lee Shashitheren, commercial director of Raya Airways Sdn Bhd, at a media briefing at the IATA World Cargo Symposium in Berlin. “This is an important step in keeping the revenue potential on the positive while controlling our cost levels.”
The 767 is the fourth member of Raya’s fleet, which consists of two 727-200Fs and a 757-200F, and has a payload of up to 42 tonnes and a maximum range of eight hours. It is capable of maintaining a temperature range of 4 to 30 degrees Celsius.
According to Shashitheren, this is the first 767 to be registered in Malaysia, and Raya obtained its air operator’s certificate for the plane in two months’ time.
Shashitheren also talked about his plans for the company, saying that another 757 and 767 were scheduled to be added to the fleet by the end of 2016, and that the airline is hoping to have eight aircraft by the end of 2018.
In terms of routes, Shashitheren said that one thing the carrier will focus on is expanding its network, because it does need additional destinations.
“China, Japan and Korea are high on our radar,” he said. “We’re also very keen on India. So these four countries will be our next target markets, and we plan to be there by the end of this year.”
Raya is also in talks with the authorities to relocate from its base at Subang Airport to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, said Shashitheren.