US carrier JetBlue has signed a partnership with FlyKargo to facilitate air cargo between Fort Lauderdale and San Juan, Puerto Rico as part of a three-month pilot program from 15 October this year.
Miami-based FlyKargo is specialists in delivering turnkey air cargo managed services to low-cost airlines and will focus on providing fast and reliable air cargo services to the registered freight forwarders as well as known shippers.
Services will begin with a traditional air-to-air offering and will gradually include door pick-up and delivery extension in additional markets.
By leveraging the excess cargo carrying capacity available on over 250 aircraft JetBlue said it aims at “providing the right balance of speed and cost to its customers”. The carrier flies to 103 cities in the US, Caribbean and Latin America with an average of 1,000 daily flights.
JetBlue director of customer experience effectiveness, Rob Martinelli said with a network covering high-valued geography throughout the Americas and Caribbean, JetBlue is “perfectly positioned” to benefit the rapidly growing e-commerce package delivery market by helping to deliver those packages in the shortest possible time.
He added: “We are excited about the prospects of growing revenue cargo and are taking a lead to innovate in this space with a partner that has demonstrated their ability to understand the industry’s current needs and quickly rollout a smart solution, while offering the expertise and connections to evolve with the market in the future.”
FlyKargo will provide a turnkey solution to JetBlue by leveraging and integrating best of breed solutions available in the marketplace and have been used extensively by many global airlines.
FlyKargo chairman, Patricio Sepulveda said: “Our clients are able to focus on their core passenger business and rely on us to safely, efficiently, and effectively operate air cargo business.
“Our clients are able to focus on their core passenger business and rely on us to safely, efficiently, and effectively operate air cargo business.”
Partners accompanying FlyKargo for the pilot program are general sales and service agent GSA Force, who will provide sales and marketing; SmartKargo, who will provide the technology; Air General, a long-standing handling provider for JetBlue, will provide the ground handling operations in Fort Lauderdale and San Juan; and lastly Aeronex, who will provide management services for FlyKargo.
