Jettainer announced plans to expand its presence in the Asia Pacific market by 2023 at the IATA World Cargo Symposium 2022 in London.

Singapore and Hong Kong will be the unit load device (ULD) management company’s main gateways in the region.

Jettainer said its goal was to establish its own regional teams in Asia, strengthening its relationship with customers through intercultural competencies and “to respond even better to individual needs”.

The company stated: “The market changes of the last two and a half years have pushed previously functioning processes in the global aviation industry to their limits. Airlines have had to experience all the problems that a lack of ULDs can cause. The importance of security of supply and reliability became even more apparent, cost awareness and sustainability continue to be a major aspect.

“All these factors play a particularly important role in the Asia Pacific markets, where airlines are on a growth track. Existing airlines are expanding their business and include widebody fleets or start with cargo operations, new airlines are being founded. Furthermore, as ULD operations have traditionally been managed in-house, the region holds great growth potential for Jettainer providing a variety of ULD management solutions responding precisely to the markets’ needs.”

Jettainer’s managing director Thomas Sonntag commented: “We currently manage a fleet of more than 100,000 ULDs. In perspective, the amount could double – especially due to growth in the Asia Pacific region. Airlines have recognised the value of ULDs and the need to manage them efficiently: The time is right for ULD outsourcing. We manage ULD fleets with only 80 per cent of the units previously required. This potential ULD saving of 20 per cent can either be used for growth, to offset shortages – or contributes to simply save cost.”

Jettainer currently manages pallets and containers for Korean airline T’Way, VietJet and Philippine budget carrier Cebu Pacific – with several more airlines in the pipeline. Current sales activities in the region are coordinated from Singapore by Edward Neo, general manager sales APAC. Jettainer’s leasing solution ‘lease&fly’ is developed out of Hong Kong with Stella Wang, focusing on mainland China.

Sonntag added: “Being close to our customers is enormously important to us. Our customers benefit from what I would call ‘regionally relevant ULD expertise’: understanding networks, geography and culture and transferring this into perfected ULD management. It brings us into the position to really understand our customers’ requirements. For this reason, our goal is to establish regional teams for sales and operations, but also central functions, on all continents, as well as local representatives where necessary and useful.”