Salmon-schlepping start-up FarCargo expects to begin cargo flights out of Faroe Islands Vágar to the United States, Israel, “and other remote markets” within three months using a B757-200(F) to be operated together with West Atlantic Sweden (T2, Malmö).
About a year ago, ch-aviation reported that Faroese fish exporter Bakkafrost, the islands’ biggest salmon farmer and one of the world’s largest salmon producers, planned to establish its own cargo airline to fly salmon to North America and was looking to acquire a Boeing freighter for the purpose. The firm, which also owns the Scottish Salmon Company, is hoping to alleviate the constant logistical challenge of taking fresh salmon to various markets, for which it already operates a fleet of ships.
Bakkafrost has now announced the name of its new airline, which it said reflects both its long-haul cargo and its port of origin. The B757 has a maximum range of over 7,000 kilometres and can carry a payload of about 35 tons, Bakkafrost said in a statement on August 15.
In league with West Atlantic, the aircraft will be ready to start operations in two to three months and will fly initially to New York, FarCargo CEO Birgir Nielsen said. FarCargo has now signed a sales agreement for the purchase of one B757-200 freighter.
According to the ch-aviation fleets module, West Atlantic Sweden does not currently operate any B757s, concentrating instead on B737, BAe Systems, and Bombardier Aerospace equipment.
“To start with, ten flight personnel will be employed permanently at the company,” Nielsen added - positions which the company started to advertise for this week. “We are looking for experienced skippers and helmsmen (m/f) to start as soon as possible,” the company wrote in its ad.
The twinjet “will fly from the Faroes to the USA and around Europe on the way back to the Faroes,” it elaborated, and West Atlantic “is responsible for flight permits and flight operations.” On the return trip, FarCargo will invite Faroese and foreign shipping companies to buy cargo space on board the freighter.
“This is a new chapter in the history of Faroese exports, the goal of which is to provide fresh salmon of the best quality in the USA, Israel, and other remote markets, one day after the fish was swimming in the Faroese fjords,” said Bakkafrost CEO Regin Jacobsen. “Customers both in Israel and in the American sushi market demand a fresh product and we will take the shortest route to provide them with the freshest product on the market.”
