Emirates SkyCargo boosts Malta's exports and imports

For Emirates' cargo customers in Malta, the new service to Larnaca in Cyprus and onward to Dubai, together with the increase in frequency to four flights each week, is providing a welcome boost with much-needed extra capacity on the Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

Emirates SkyCargo, represented in Malta by general sales agents Cassar & Cooper Ltd, has expanded its weekly existing belly-hold capacity from 51 tonnes to 68 tonnes in each direction between Malta, Cyprus and Dubai, the commercial hub of the Middle East.

Since last October Emirates is flying an A330-200 to the island every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, with a freight capacity of 17 tonnes each way. Air Malta, the national airline, code-shares services on Emirates' flights between Malta and Larnaca in Cyprus.

Paul Fleri Soler, Emirates' manager for Malta and Cyprus, said: "Our Malta-Larnaca-Dubai route and the increase in frequency gives both Maltese and Cypriot cargo customers better, and more frequent access between the two countries as well as to Dubai, a major connecting hub for cities throughout the Middle East, the Indian sub-continent and Asia-Pacific.

"Our new service from Malta to Larnaca has opened another gateway in the Mediterranean. It provides faster delivery for Maltese importers of perishables and other time-sensitive cargo."

Lino Bonello, Cassar & Cooper's operation director, said that Malta has shown a steady increase in tonnage every year since Emirates began its operations to Malta in 1998.

"Malta and Cyprus are both important Mediterranean destinations for Emirates SkyCargo and the new route and added frequency will serve to increase the growing trend in exports from Malta."

Emirates SkyCargo will help meet Maltese demand for shipments of textiles, electrical components, raw materials, car parts, fresh vegetables and fish for specialised outlets, as well as tropical fish into the country.

From Malta, it transports tuna fish, semi-conductors, printed matter, electronic equipment, heavy drilling equipment, personal effects and outsized cargo.

Emirates SkyCargo now serves 77 destinations in 54 countries in Europe, North America, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian subcontinent and the Far East. Emirates' 83-strong fleet, which includes 76 wide-bodied passenger jets and seven freighters (one Airbus A310, five 747-400Fs and one 747-200Fs) is one of the youngest in the skies.

The seven freighters serve busy trade routes including New York, Milan, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Khartoum, Istanbul, Islamabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Lahore, Dhaka, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore, as well as cargo-only destinations such as Gothenburg, Amsterdam, Bangalore and Taipei. 

Emirates SkyCargo's Priority Service assures on-time delivery throughout the world, while the extensive trucking and off-line partner networks ensure comprehensive coverage where customers need it most.

SkyChain, the one-stop Web shop with many value-added features, enables customers to obtain information as well as transact business online.

In 2005 Emirates SkyCargo won a clutch of major cargo awards including: Air Cargo Carrier of the Year from International Freighting Weekly, UK (for the second year running); Best Air Cargo Carrier - Middle East from Cargo News Asia (for the third year running); and Best Cargo Airline to the Middle East (for the 17th year running); Best Cargo Airline to the Indian subcontinent (for the eighth year); and Best Cargo Airline to the Far East (for the second year) from Air Cargo News.