Australian air Express plans future expansion

MELBOURNE, 31 October 2006: Australian air Express today announced the release of a tender for three additional B737 freighter aircraft.

The additional aircraft will expand the Australian Air Express (AaE) B737 fleet capacity to seven.

The Acting Chief Executive Officer of AaE, Mr Wayne Dunne, said today: The addition of three B737 freighter aircraft will allow AaE to offer its customers an even better service and support the future growth of the business.

These additional aircraft will further enhance the reliability of our operations that also include B727s and BAe 146s, supplemented by AaE's access to the extensive network and reach of Qantas aircraft, said Mr Dunne.

A program to convert four Qantas B737-300 aircraft to freighters for AaE commenced in April 2006.

The first of these aircraft, which are being operated under a wet lease arrangement by Qantas subsidiary Express Freighters Australia, began operating on 24 October.

Australian air Express is owned jointly by Qantas and Australia Post.