Long regarded as the stepsister in the passenger-driven airline industry, cargo has thrown a lifeline to many carriers battling the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Global head of cargo at the International Air Transport Association (Iata), Glyn Hughes, told Freight News last month that over 100 airlines were using passenger aircraft to carry cargo.
Among the airlines benefiting from its increased cargo focus is Virgin Atlantic which is set to increase its cargo-only flights by 35% to nearly 600 in June, with the launch of new routes including Beijing and Brussels.
In May, the airline operated 446 cargo-only flights, including 66 charters. It carried 4.4 million kilos of cargo into the UK and 5.3 million kilos of exports, producing the highest monthly cargo revenues in the airline’s 36-year history.