SYDNEY: Qantas has won a five-year deal with the Toll Group to carry express parcels and freight throughout Australia via its Qantas/Jetstar network. The airline has also extended its exclusive contract with Australia Post for another five years.
Japan Post completed its US$5.2 billion purchase of the Toll Group in May this year. President & CEO Toru Takahashi said he was looking forward to working with the company to establish Japan Post as a top global logistics player.
"We regard Toll as a great partner and teacher in the field of global logistics, especially in the areas of forwarding and contract logistics," Takahashi said. "By leveraging each other's strengths we aim to become a leading company in the very competitive global logistics industry."
Commenting on the two new mail-related deals, Qantas International and Freight CEO Gareth Evans said: "We're proud to be chosen as Australia Post's exclusive provider of air freight in the domestic market. It's a relationship that we've built up over decades and we're glad to see it continue.
"We are also really pleased to be working with our new major client Toll to offer the business increased air freight capacity which will complement their existing freighter aircraft.
"These strategic alliances combine Qantas' unrivalled domestic network with the biggest freight customers in the country to deliver seamless freight, parcel and mail services for Australia," he noted.
In addition to marketing Qantas and Jetstar belly capacity, Qantas Freight operates a fleet of 13 freighters that supplement capacity on domestic and international routes that includes the Emirates partnership.
With its Toll group contract ending on June 30, Virgin Australia has announced the launch of its own cargo business from July 01. Merren McArthur, group executive - Virgin Australia Cargo declared: "Virgin Australia will now actively compete in the domestic and short haul international cargo market for the first time." McArthur said the launch also included a "state of the art IT system" for freight tracking and capacity management.
