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| |||||||
| Hubs | Bournemouth Airport | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fleet size | 5 | ||||||
| Destinations | 7 | ||||||
| Parent company | Priority 1 Holdings | ||||||
| Key people | Paul Stoddart, Founder
Jason Holt Iain Edwards | ||||||
European Cargo Limited is a British cargo airline based at Bournemouth Airport, England, operating a fleet of Airbus A340-600 converted freighters.[1]
History
[edit]PPE charter flights
[edit]European Cargo began operations in April 2020 when its parent company, European Aviation Air Charter, responded to an urgent charter request by the UK government for PPE transport from Malaysia. The carrier operated an initial series of freight services operated by Maleth-Aero of Malta using former Virgin Atlantic A340-600 aircraft which were painted in commemorative liveries as a tribute to the British National Health Service.
Establishment of permanent operation
[edit]In December 2020, European Cargo Limited was registered in England and Wales,[2] and shortly thereafter began to take over the operation of the A340-600 airliners from Maltese partner Maleth-Aero.[3] These aircraft were thus placed on the UK register beginning in February 2021.
European Cargo began converting its widebody fleet into permanent freight configuration (the aircraft had been operating as temporary "preighters" - passenger aircraft temporarily repurposed for freight operations) in 2022, with the first of these certified by the EASA in December of that year.[4] The airline also received investment from Priority 1, a US logistics broker, in 2022.[5] In 2023, European Cargo opened a new route from Bournemouth to Chengdu,[6] and also began fresh fish charters between Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes and Heathrow Airport.
Destinations
[edit]European Cargo currently serves the following scheduled destinations, alongside a variety of charter routes:
| Country | City | Airport | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | Vienna | Vienna International Airport | |
| China | Chengdu | Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport | |
| Chongqing | Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport | ||
| Haikou | Haikou Meilan International Airport | ||
| Ürümqi | Ürümqi Tianshan International Airport | ||
| Norway | Harstad | Harstad/Narvik Airport | Seasonal |
| United Kingdom | Bournemouth | Bournemouth Airport | Hub |
Fleet
[edit]A European Cargo A340-600, at Bournemouth Airport in October 2023
Current fleet
[edit]As of August 2025[update], European Cargo operates the following aircraft:[7]
| Aircraft | Operational | Stored/maintenance | Due | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A340-600 | 1 | - | ||
| Airbus A340-600P2F | 4 | - |
Former
[edit]The airline previously operated the following aircraft:
References
[edit]- ^ Hardy, Edward (2022-12-22). "Bournemouth-based European Cargo celebrates freighter milestone". AIR CARGO WEEK. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "EUROPEAN CARGO LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "New European Freight Airline Ready For Takeoff Shortly | Aviation Week Network". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Saunders, Eddie (2022-03-28). "European Cargo Limited announces investment to accelerate growth". CAAS /// Cargo Airports & Airline Services. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ Brett, Damian (2023-05-04). "New all-cargo service between China and UK". Air Cargo News. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "Global Airline Guide 2025 - European Cargo". Airliner World. September 2025. p. 78.
