Thai Air Cargo to launch.(Air & Expedited)(Brief Article)

The booming air trade fueling passenger airline startups in Asia is starting to bring in new air cargo carriers.

Newly-unveiled Thai Air Cargo expects to start intra-Asian service from a Bangkok base by the middle of this year and already has plans to stretch its reach.

A joint venture between Australia's Qantas and CTI Holding of Thailand, TAC will primarily serve Asian markets within five to six flying hours of Bangkok, according to the joint venture partners.

It will operate MD-11 freighter aircraft capable of carrying up to 86 metric tons of cargo and initially/target markets in Japan, China, India and Europe.

Air cargo traffic within …