Global GSA Group and Alaska Airlines have signed a General Sales & Service Agent (GSSA) partnership ahead of the airline’s late April launch of direct Italy-US flights from Rome-Fiumicino to its Seattle hub. The experienced GSSA will secure and develop the airline’s cargo business out of Italy, which seeks to position Seattle as a key air gateway to North America and beyond.
This partnership with Global GSA Group, supports the carrier’s drive for enhanced cargo capability across transatlantic and transpacific markets and helps it excel in the freight market.
From late April onwards, daily Boeing 787-9 flights will offer the Italian freight forwarding community connections via Seattle to over 100 destinations across the U.S., Asia Pacific, South Pacific and Latin America. Global GSA Group will take on commercial responsibility for the sale of cargo capacity on these flights. The new service opens up opportunities for the transport of key commodities such as aircraft spare parts, high fashion and accessories, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals or machine parts.
“At Global GSA Group, we enjoy a very close cooperation with our Italian forwarders and will ensure that we maximise the benefit of this new cargo connection both for the community and Alaska Airlines,” says Aytekin Saray, Chief Executive Officer of Global GSA Group. “Rome-Seattle is a particularly attractive routing as it offers an additional, direct service into the Pacific Northwest and beyond, for the great variety of high value, special goods that Italy exports and Global GSA Group are experts in dealing with. We are proud to call Alaska Airlines our newest partner and customer."
“Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are two carriers with tremendous histories – more than nine decades apiece – placing them at the forefront of commercial aviation,” says Ian Morgan, Alaska Airlines Vice President of Cargo. “Now we’re creating a brand-new carrier with that legacy of almost 200 years of history. We are building the foundation for future growth, and our global expansion out of Seattle is leading the way.”
Cargo plays a significant role as a key revenue diversifier in the carrier’s strategy. Alaska Airlines is expanding its cargo transit business via its Seattle hub, particularly to Asia, and through its European expansion plans.
“Our partnership with Global GSA Group allows us to establish exciting new shipping connections between Rome and Seattle – and up and down the West Coast, where we serve more destinations than any other carrier,” Morgan explained. Alaska Airlines is the fifth largest airline in the United States and the 15th largest worldwide. “We have such a unique destination mix, which includes Alaska and Hawaii, of course, but also the 115+ destinations we serve around the world,” he added. “With Global GSA Group, we are uniquely positioned to be an important new partner for the forwarding community. We look forward to working with you.”
