Transmile Group Bhd

Transmile is no longer a small airfreight service provider that only ships parcels and mail for Pos Malaysia within the country. It has spread its wings beyond Asia. The group's coverage is expanding fast as it has secured more landing rights - the core and most valuable intangible asset. Transmile has landing rights in more than 10 major cities in... Asia-Pacific, including Sydney and Auckland, plus cities in the US and Europe. It also has two fifth freedom rights (FRR) in Hong Kong and four cities in China. With the FRR, the group's aircraft could carry cargo from Subang to Hong Kong or one of the Chinese cities and continue to North America, and vice-versa. Transmile said in its website that Asia would be the focal point for the group in the next five years, given the rising demand, particularly in China. "The group has yet to utilise its FRR in China. With the delivery of more aircraft, it will be able to do so," said an industry observer. He pointed out that the group's Thai associate company K-Mile Air Co Ltd would enable it to use Bangkok as a base to serve the Western Asia and beyond, thus making the flights shorter. Transmile's share price encountered some turbulence in recent months amid concerns that the group's difficulties in acquiring more wide-bodied aircraft, MD-11, would hinder earnings growth. The industry observer explained that the hiccups in capacity expansion were due mainly to the inflated prices of aircraft as courier companies like UPS and FedEx were also expanding their fleets. However, he said, Transmile would be able to decide on whether to lease or buy in the second half of the year. JP Morgan said in a report that although the capacity expansion would continue, it believed the demand for MD-11 aircraft could slow down as courier firms UPS and FedEx had ordered 10 of the massive A380 freighters with an option to order another 10. It noted that Transmile's share price had underperformed due to the overhang in the conversion of its five-year guaranteed redeemable convertible bonds. "We ...Read More