Emirates records 43% growth in outbound volumes

Fitting into the good news category at a time when slumping airfreight volumes tend to fill the page is Emirates SkyCargo – pleased to be able to report that the SA operation has seen a 43% growth in outbound cargo volumes. “With 99 cities in 61 countries on six continents directly serviced by Emirates SkyCargo,” said Kum Naicker, Emirates’ SA cargo manager, “there are always new business opportunities.” Johannesburg and Cape Town are presently the markets feeding SkyCargo – but with Durban due to be added into the mix from October 1. From that date, SkyCargo will launch its third daily service from SA to Dubai – and, with Durban added, it will become the 18th destination offered by Emirates in the African network. Naicker expressed himself confident that Durban would pay its way in air cargo volumes. “Looking back at the introduction of Cape Town in 2008 there was a marked contribution to the increased growth in the country’s outbound cargo volumes,” he told FTW. “It is fair to expect that Durban, SA’s largest port city, will also add considerably to cargo capacity.” The Dubai-Durban route will be serviced by the Airbus A330-200, capable of carrying up to 14-tonnes of cargo in the belly-hold of the passenger aircraft. “At first,” said Naicker, “Emirates will be flying into Durban International Airport and then to King Shaka International Airport, once complete. By the close of 2009, Naicker expects the capacity figures to be as follows: • Johannesburg: three flights per day, with 20-t capacity per aircraft for both inbound and outbound flights using the Boeing 777-300; • Cape Town: one flight per day with 20-t capacity both inbound and outbound, using the Boeing 777-200; • Durban: one flight per day with 14-t capacity in and out using the Airbus A330-200. “While the air cargo market has been severely affected by the global economic crisis, we are still cautiously optimistic about its recovery beginning to start towards the last quarter of this year,” said Naicker.