Israeli cargo carrier CAL Cargo Airlines, based at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV), will be renamed as Challenge Airlines IL. The decision is part of the rebranding strategy process implemented by Challenge Group, its parent company.
The company highlighted its track record in Israel over the past four decades. Initially conceived to transport the country’s agricultural exports to Europe, CAL Cargo has since diversified its operations.
The airline, which has been operating since 1976, has become the leading provider of air cargo services in the Middle Eastern country. Today, it provides air logistics solutions to customers around the world. It also collaborates with the Israeli Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health and Defense.
As of 2020, it is part of Challenge Group, which implemented a more commercial approach to operations, inaugurated new routes and established it as a major player in the growing global air cargo and logistics market.
«There is something quite poetic in an airline originally set up to fly agricultural produce, actually becoming the seed that grew to form the roots of our Challenge Group», said Yossi Shoukroun, CEO of Challenge Group and new CEO of Challenge Airlines IL. He also stated that they will invest in the renewal of the airline’s fleet and facilities.
As part of the rebranding process, Challenge Airlines IL will move to a new headquarters building in Tel Aviv. It will also add two new aircraft. These will be two Boeing 767s that are in the process of being converted to freighters. The new aircraft will join the two Boeing 747-400ERFs currently on the fleet.
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