Emirates' services to please NZ cargo customers

Emirates' A340-500 services set to please NZ cargo customers

New Zealand customers dealing with time-sensitive cargo are in for a treat once Emirates SkyCargo begins its services with the brand new Airbus A340-500s.

The ultra long-range aircraft is designed to accommodate six pallets and 12 containers, with the capacity to carry a total of 16 tonnes of cargo or 90 cubic metres volume with full passenger loads. The A340-500 will begin operating on the Auckland-Sydney-Dubai route from December 3.

Said Peter Sedgley, Emirates' Vice President Cargo Commercial Operations:

"Dairy products, fish, flowers, fruit and meat from Australia and New Zealand, very popular in the Middle East and Europe, will reach the supermarket shelves in these regions, both faster and fresher. The new services are commencing at the right time ? when demand for consumer goods and perishables peak during the holiday season."

Ground-handling service standards in Australia and New Zealand have been stringently specified to enable Emirates SkyCargo to maintain the highest product quality, enabling customers to take further advantage of the new services.

The future holds many exciting services for cargo customers as these aircraft will eventually also serve new non-stop routes from Dubai to New York and San Francisco, and non-stop flights to Melbourne. These destinations will come on board after the airline receives delivery of the remaining A340-500 aircraft in 2004. The first aircraft has already been inducted into the fleet, and Emirates expects to take delivery of three more by year-end.

Emirates SkyCargo's customers worldwide then can take advantage of earlier deliveries of raw materials, time-sensitive cargo and perishables.

The new A340-500s spearhead Emirates' US$26 billion aircraft order book, which also includes 26 Boeing 777-300 Extended Range aircraft, 20 A340-600s, eight A340-300s and two A380-500 freighters. More than 100 new jets are on order to be delivered to Emirates by 2012, helping to make Dubai one of the world's major new airline and cargo hubs for the 21st century

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