Emirates SkyCargo has taken delivery of the first of its three Airbus A310-300Fs from EADS EFW (Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH), at the latter’s facility in Dresden, Germany. The delivery was marked by celebrations at Dresden, attended by media, as well as senior management from Emirates and EADS EFW.
At the press conference, Emirates’ senior vice president Cargo Ram Menen said: “This delivery represents a milestone in Emirates SkyCargo’s history. It represents the first Airbus freighter in our fleet, the first freighter ever owned by Emirates and, to top it all, we are now the launch customer for Airbus freighters with side-by-side loading capability of 96”x125” pallets.”
He added that the new aircraft will provide more capacity and a better service for Emirates SkyCargo’s customers in its key regional routes in the Middle East, Mediterranean, South Asia and Africa.
The wide-bodied A310-300F, with the Emirates SkyCargo logo emblazoned on its body, has a gross payload of 39 tonnes. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the aircraft offers excellent performance capabilities.
EADS EFW president and CEO Horst Emker said: “We are very pleased to deliver the first A310-300 freighter to Emirates SkyCargo. It is a source of great pride to know that the converted Airbus aircraft will be playing a crucial part in the growing international freight routes of the tremendously successful carrier that is Emirates.”
The two A310-300Fs on order will enter Emirates’ fleet by the end of the year. The A310Fs are designed to be A380F-friendly. The A310F’s capability to use standard cargo containers represents maximum interlining potential with Emirates’ two gigantic A380Fs, expected to enter the fleet in 2008.
The six wet-leased Boeing 747s, the first A310F, and orders for four more Airbus freighters – two A310Fs and two A380Fs – will expand Emirates SkyCargo’s total freighter fleet to 11 aircraft.
Emirates’ 78-strong fleet, which includes 71 wide-bodied passenger jets and seven freighters (one Airbus A310-300F, four Boeing 747-400Fs and two Boeing 747-200Fs) is one of the youngest in the skies. Emirates SkyCargo serves more than 75 destinations in Europe, North America, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian sub-continent and the Far East.
Emirates SkyCargo is represented in Malta by general sales agent Cassar & Cooper Ltd, and enquiries can be made at Air Cargo House, Triq Ganni Vassallo, Luqa, on telephone number 2166-0102, or at [email protected] Emirates Airline flies three times a week to Malta from Dubai, every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday on A330-200.