Western Global Airlines explains controversial US Cargo flights

Colombo (News 1st): Another US Cargo aircraft that landed at the Bandaranaike International Airport departed early this morning (July 16). This aircraft belongs to Western Global Airlines as well. A McDonnell Douglas 11 aircraft belonging to Western Global Airline, a cargo carrier, reached the Bandaranaike International Airport during the early hours last Friday (July 12) and had departed to the United Arab Emirates on Saturday (July 13). Subsequently, another McDonnell Douglas 11 aircraft belonging to Western Global Airline that landed at the Bandaranaike International Airport on Sunday at 2.50 am, had left to the Fujairah International Airport in the UAE at 12.40 am today. This aircraft had arrived on the island, from the US Andersen Air Force Base, located in the Guam islands. The Guam island is a strategic U.S. naval base located in the Pacific Ocean, which consists of one air force base and two naval bases. The Ministry of Defence previously said that the first US cargo aircraft had arrived on the island after obtaining prior approval to obtain products and services during transit. However, officials of the Civil Aviation Authority said that the aircraft had arrived to transport a stock of apparels. News 1st continuously questioned, whether these were transactions by the US military taking place, under the ACSA. Responding to an inquiry made by News 1st, President & CEO of Western Global Airlines, James K. Neff said that his company is an FAA 121 certified commercial airline, and in October 2016, became certified to operate for the US government Civil Reserve Air Fleet program. Accordingly, Western Global Airlines representing the USA engages in transporting commercial merchandise across the globe. We thank Western Global Airlines for their prompt response, which also confirms their relationship with the US government. However, the question still remains,

Are the US cargo aircraft visiting Sri Lanka under the guise of civil aviation stakeholders of the ACSA, that facilitates the exchange of military goods and services?