Aircraft Economics and Aero Excel staged the third Freighter Focus for Asia conference in November. It was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and chaired by Eddy Pieniazek, director consultancy and information services, Airclaims, and Rick Hatton, president, Cargo Conversions LLC. The airlines were out in force to provide a vital insight into their cargo fleet-planning decisions and overall business strategies. Jo Murray was there. There is no individual better equipped to address a distinguished gathering of cargo industry experts on the subject of serving the Asian region from Malaysia than JJ Ong, senior general manager of MASkargo, Malaysia Airlines' (MAS) cargo arm. MASkargo is one of the few cargo operators from the Asia-Pacific region to fly to and serve all six continents. The cargo airline has chosen to operate 747-200s and 747-400s. Ong explained that his key strategy for the airline is to provide customers with high frequencies and a high capacity. But he warned that the 'airline could not be all things to all people; it cannot be everywhere and still be as effective. This, he said, was why the cargo operation has chosen to operate the 747F, although this aircraft allows him to serve key markets only. "We chose to be something to somebody," said Ong.
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