ECS Group has been selected by Asiana Airlines as its exclusive global General Sales and Service Agent (GSSA) to manage the airline’s global belly cargo operations. The agreement , effective August 1, covers 33 locations across nine countries in Europe, the Americas, China, Japan and Southeast Asia, and follows Asiana’s transition to a belly-only cargo model after divesting its freighter division.
Under the agreement, ECS Group will provide sales, reservations, customer service and ground handling coordination for Asiana’s belly cargo operations. Asiana uses the lower decks of its passenger aircraft, including the A350-900 with up to 18 tonnes of cargo capacity, to carry shipments such as semiconductor components, fresh food and small express cargo.
“We are honoured to partner with Asiana Airlines and proud of the expertise our teams bring to this collaboration. Leveraging ECS Group’s global network, we are committed to supporting Asiana Airlines with reliable, efficient, and tailored cargo solutions worldwide,” said Jean Ceccaldi, CEO of ECS Group.
An Asiana Airlines official said, “By combining ECS Group’s global network with Asiana’s expertise, we will respond proactively to the global air cargo market. We will continue to provide systematic and specialised services going forward.”
In 2024, Asiana transported about 158,000 tonnes of belly cargo on international passenger flights. With ECS Group managing its cargo strategy, the airline aims to maintain competitiveness in international logistics after regulatory directives led to the sale of its freighter operations.
ECS Group operates in over 60 countries, representing more than 100 airlines and employing over 1,700 people worldwide.