On June 1 Emirates SkyCargo began using its new Airbus A345, with a cargo capacity between 13 and 15 tonnes, to supplement its weekly 220 tonne capacity. Prior to adding the new service, SkyCargo inaugurated Dubai – New York service on September 1, 2003 and as demand increased, it added Boeing 747-400F service last November.
The airline notes it manages, consolidates and forwards electronics, garments, machinery and computer parts to the U.S. It moves electronic and Information Technology product, oil equipment and pharmaceuticals from New York.
Not only is Volga-Dnepr’s new AN-124-100M – Ruslan – a modernized version of its nine other AN-124-100s, its range has increased from 4,750 km to 6,500 km as much as 120 tons of cargo. Of late, according to the airline, the outsized, heavyweight air cargo market has seen 15-20% growth year-over-year. Volga-Dnepr claims a market share of 51% for all of its AN-124-100 operations.
Combined, new Air France/KLM operations in May showed an increase of 12.5% in cargo capacity. For the two, this meant a decline of 0.5% to an overall cargo load factor of 68.9%, although combined cargo operations increased 11.2%.
Load factors to one side, individually, Air France showed an increase of 12.5% in its cargo traffic while KLM cargo was up 10.6. Regions showing strength for the two are the Asia-Pacific Region, up 17.1% and the Middle Ease and Africa, growing 17.2%. Caribbean-Indian Ocean freight was the only area of decline, down 0.7%.
A special note: Despite the collapse of part of the roof at Terminal 2E and France’s Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, Air France continues to maintain its schedules, moving the 60 daily arrivals and departures that had used 2E to five other airport gates.
