Bigger aircraft adds space to Dubai

Boeing 777 deployed on ad hoc basis THE AD hoc deployment of Boeing 777s on the Dubai-Johannesburg route is offering shippers additional capacity although space demands have been up and down in recent times, says South African cargo manager Kum Naicker. "The 777s have been used on an ad hoc basis in place of the Airbus 330 which is our regular aircraft on the route," he says. "It means a far bigger capacity, the larger Boeing giving us up to 25 tons as against the 18 maximum on the Airbus." From December 1 Emirates will increase frequency from seven to 10 flights a week. A dedicated 747 freighter calls at Johannesburg twice a week, on Sundays and Wednesdays. Freighter "The freighter is contracted to Zimbabwe's agricultural sector so cannot be used for cargo out of Johannesburg but we can use it for inbound consignments," says Naicker. "There has been a good deal of uncertainty in the industry in recent weeks, and October, normally a busy month, has been unusually quiet. But I think that is part of the international economic climate."