Emirates SkyCargo increases freight service to Abidjan, Tunis

DigitalSENSE Business News

 … Just 10 outstanding travel agents depart Lagos to Dubai

The freight division of Emirates, SkyCargo, has set to increase its cargo capacity to Tunis and Abidjan with the introduction of a weekly freighter service from 17^th March 2014, DigitalSENSE Business News reports.

This is coming as 10 outstanding travel agents in Nigeria, departed for Dubai and Singapore on Emirates Airline sponsored familiarization tour.

The new freighter flight DigitalSENSE Business News would supplement the existing belly hold cargo capacity provided on Emirates’ daily passenger services to the two cities.

DigitalSENSE Business News recalls that Emirates SkyCargo currently offers over 200 tonnes of capacity each week on the Tunis route, while the flights to Abidjan, which is a linked route with Accra, offers in excess of 300 tonnes. 

Emirates SkyCargo, DigitalSENSE Business News gathered would use a Boeing 777 Freighter aircraft on the Dubai-Abidjan-Tunis-Dubai route, which is capable of carrying 103 tonnes of cargo, and with its main deck being the widest of any freighter aircraft at 3,7 metres, it is able to uplift outsized cargo and carry larger consignments.

Confirming this to DigitalSENSE Business News, the Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo, Nabil Sultan, said the B777 freighter is one of the most modern and technologically advanced freighters available and has the lowest fuel burn of any comparable size aircraft. 

“Africa is a key growth region for Emirates SkyCargo and the additional capacity and frequency of a scheduled freighter service will create new opportunities for businesses in Tunisia and Cote D’Ivoire wanting to tap into new markets in the Emirates network, particularly the Middle East, Asia and the Far East, as well as for customers in our network wanting to increase their trade with the two countries,” Sultan said.

Also DigitalSENSE Business News gathered that imports into Abidjan include electronics and electrical equipment, automotive spare parts, construction equipment and pharmaceuticals, while similar types of cargo are moved into Tunis.

While exports from Tunis are perishables, electronics, construction equipment and textiles, while exports from Abidjan are mainly perishables, such as fresh and frozen fruit, vegetables, meat, seafood and other foodstuffs, as well plants, machinery and tools. 

Sultan said that Emirates SkyCargo currently operates freighters to 46 destinations around the world, 13 of which are in Africa.

“These destinations, many of which are also Emirates’ passenger destinations include Accra, Addis Ababa, Entebbe, Dakar, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Tripoli, Cairo and Khartoum, while Djibouti, Eldoret, Lilongwe and Kano are freighter only destinations,” the manager said.

DigitalSENSE Business News notes that Emirates SkyCargo has a fleet of 12 freighters, 10 Boeing 777Fs and two Boeing 747-400ERFs, which from 1^st May 2014 will operate from a brand new cargo terminal at Dubai World Central’s Al Maktoum International Airport.

Ayo Omidele:Transport/Aviation/GEE

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Pix: Managing Director, Dees Travels, Olotu Oluwadaisi(left); Regional Manager, Emirates Airline Manoj Nair; Senior Sales Executives Ms Grace Babalola and Managing Director, Wakanow.com, Ekezie Obinna shortly before their departure for the Emirates Airline sponsored familiarization tour to Dubai and Singapore for 10 Outstanding travel Agents in Nigeria