South African traders welcome Emirates non-stop service
25 / 03 / 2008
EMIRATES SkyCargo will have capacity to Cape Town from 30 March, with the launch of a daily passenger service to the South African destination.
Trade between the UAE and South Africa has grown steadily since services were inaugurated 13 years ago. In 2006, it crossed the US$562 million mark.
Peter Sedgley, Emirates senior vice-president cargo commercial operations, said: “Emirates SkyCargo regards the South African market as vital. Testimony to this are the two Boeing 747 freighters we operate into Johannesburg each week, as well as the belly capacity on our 21 passenger flights. We have enjoyed excellent relationships with south African shippers for more than a decade, which we look forward to growing with the introduction of non-stop services to Cape Town.”
Emirates SkyCargo has carried an average of 12 tonnes a week from Cape Town through its road feeder services to Johannesburg, however with the new direct flights this figure is expected to increase to at least 50 tonnes per week.