Virgin Australia secures TNT Express cargo contract

TNT Express has awarded Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane Int'l) a five-year, USD575 million contract to haul air freight across Australia for and on behalf of the global logistics firm.  According to The Australian newspaper, the contract will begin in July and will see Virgin using bellyhold capacity as well as dedicated freighter aircraft. The carrier is reportedly planning to wet-lease two BAE146 and one B737-300(F). Virgin Australia had relied on Toll Aviation (TFX, Brisbane Archerfield) for its freight requirements up until June last year when it launched its own in-house cargo handling division.