JAPAN AIRLINES CARGO JOINS WOW AIR-FREIGHT ALLIANCE

JAPAN AIRLINES CARGO JOINS WOW AIR-FREIGHT ALLIANCE    Japan Airlines Cargo on Friday joined Lufthansa Cargo AG, SAS Cargo Group and Singapore Airlines Cargo in the Wow air-freight alliance.
   The cargo division of Japan Airlines
   'We believe that by this strategic step we are able to enhance the global approach of JAL Cargo,' said Jutaro Shimizu, senior vice president, cargo and mail of Japan Airlines Cargo. 'By adding WOW's harmonized product portfolio and worldwide air cargo network we ill keep the pace of our customers' demands and the trends of globalization.'
   'Japan Airlines Cargo joining WOW is a natural development of our prior bilateral and also tripartite cooperation including Lufthansa Cargo,' said Peter Gronlund, president and chief executive officer of SAS Cargo Group.
   The addition of Japan Airlines Cargo will significantly expand the alliances network in northern Asia and establish a major presence in Japan. The WOW alliance now has a combined fleet of 43 dedicated freighters and offers bellyhold capacity in more than 760 passenger aircraft, including widebodies.
   Lufthansa Cargo, SAS Cargo and Singapore Airlines Cargo formed the alliance, initially under the name New Global Cargo in April 2000. They changed the name to WOW in March 2002.
   On Oct. 1, 2001, the three airlines began offering harmonized premium express services — td.Flash, SAS Priority and Swiftrider — to customers as a time-definite service across their network. Although maintaining separate brand identities, the three services share key features.
   On April 1, the WOW partner airlines also harmonized their general cargo products.
   Hwang Teng Aun, president of Singapore Airlines Cargo, said JAL's stable of products would fit easily into the WOW alliance's services. 'We have invested in the processes and IT systems to ensure that we add more value for our customers. J Speed and J Freight will integrate well with the WOW joint express and general cargo products.'