United drops Kansas City, Cancun cargo service
United Airlines has terminated cargo service at two cities in North America in the past week.
On Tuesday, the Chicago-based carrier announced an immediate embargo on cargo transport to and from Cancun, Mexico. The decision follows an Aug. 7 customer bulletin stating that cargo operations have ceased at Kansas City International Airport.
No reasons for the cancellations were given in the notices. The airline uses the belly capacity of its passenger fleet to haul cargo for shippers.
United spokesman Jeff Kovick said the agreement with the incumbent ground services contractor in Kansas City came to an end and the airline is working to identify a new cargo handler in hopes of soon restarting service.
Kovick said there are no immediate plans to resume cargo service in Cancun after an evaluation determined there no longer was a business case at that location.
United, along with the rest of the airline industry has been taking a scalpel to unprofitable routes and services, as well as raising fares and fees, in an effort to cope with weaker travel demand and huge inflation of aviation costs. ' Eric Kulisch
