Cairo-based airline, EgyptAir, is expanding its freight division by converting two new Airbus A330s into 80-tonne payload carriers.
“EgyptAir has started thinking bigger and the conversion of the Airbus A330s is part of its freight growth strategy to expand services to Africa and the Middle East,” said Gerd von Mansberg, country manager for ATC Aviation – the general sales agent (GSA) for EgyptAir.
The aircraft will replace two Airbus A300-600s which form part of the carrier’s current fleet.
The two new Airbus A330s will be in service by the end of 2018, offering four flights per week between Cairo and Johannesburg.
According to Von Mansberg, South African exporters will benefit from the fact that they no longer need to charter flights to Egypt at high charter rates, but can now simply make use of a regular scheduled flight to any destination that EgyptAir serves via Cairo.
These destinations include: Frankfurt; Istanbul; Los Angeles; Ostend-Bruges; Grand Canyon National Park Airport; Sharjah International Airport; Aminu Kano International Airport, Kenya; N'Djamena International, Chad; Beirut International Airport; Malpensa International Airport, Milan; and Khartoum International Airport, Sudan.
To use this scheduled service, a minimum cargo booking of 1 000 kilogrammes is required, added Von Mansberg.
