Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates, launched a dedicated SkyCargo freighter flight to Harare.
The scheduled cargo-only Boeing 777 aircraft will arrive from Dubai every Friday. From Harare, it would proceed to Johannesburg before returning to Dubai.
Ram Menen, Emirates’ divisional senior vice-president, said the SkyCargo would be transporting commodities such as garments, computer parts, and pharmaceuticals to Zimbabwe — from the Far East, Australasia, the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East, Europe and North America.
Fresh flowers, fruit and vegetables would be among the main commodities shipped in the other direction, while trade is also expected to be generated by neighbouring countries.
The SkyCargo airplane has the capacity to carry 103 tonnes of freight, adding to the existing weekly cargo capacity of 160 tonnes on Emirates’ scheduled five-times-a-week passenger service.
“Supporting the thriving trade between Africa and the rest of the world, SkyCargo’s weekly cargo capacity in and out of the continent is already more than 6 000 tonnes since the launch of the airline’s passenger service to Harare and Lusaka on February 1,” said Menen.
Following the launch of the Lusaka/Harare service, Emirates SkyCargo now serves a global route network that spans 120 points in 72 countries, including 11 cargo-only destinations, while more than 50 of the locations Emirates SkyCargo serves were e-freight compliant.
“With such a comprehensive service now in place we are in a good position to help sustain Africa’s continued economic development by facilitating international trade with its business partners and opening it up to new markets on our ever-expanding network,” said Menen.
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South Africa is Emirates SkyCargo’s key trading point on the continent with a weekly capacity of more than 1 500 tonnes spread across 84 passenger flights serving Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, as well as two dedicated Johannesburg freighters.
