December 03 - The global downturn has not had a negative impact on oil and gas projects in the Caspian region for everyone.
Coyne Airways is reporting a big increase in shipments for the energy sector on board its scheduled weekly Boeing 747 freighter service from London and Cologne to Tbilisi.
From Tbilisi, Coyne operates regional all-cargo flights to Aktau, Atyrau and Uralsk in Kazakhstan as well as to Baku in Azerbaijan and Yerevan in Armenia. Other destinations in the Caspian region are served on request by air and road services.
Larry Coyne, CEO of Coyne Airways, said: "December 2008 marks the second anniversary of the launch of our neutral B747F flights into Tbilisi and volumes are continuing to increase, driven by the strong oil and gas market. As well as equipment for exploration, we are also carrying the basic products and personal effects needed to support the large international team working in the region.
"Operating from London Stansted and Cologne makes it easy for customers around the world to connect with our service to the Caspian with freight moved from origin points on a single air waybill. With the arrival of our 747F flights into Tbilisi at 0700 every Tuesday, we can make freight available locally the same day thanks to expedited transfers and on Wednesday in Aktau, Atyrau, Uralsk, Baku and Yerevan. This schedule has been designed around the specific needs of our oil and gas customers and their logistics partners and they remain confident of the market's prospects for 2009."
Since it began all-cargo flights to the Caspian over a decade ago, Coyne Airways has successfully completed some 4,000 freighter services to the region.
