BETKO NEWS

BETKO FRESH PRODUCE OFFERS THE HIGHEST QUALITY FRUIT

Airline expansion highlights the potential in Africa

25 January 2012

Africa is already acknowledged as one of the world’s growing consumer markets, but it also still has huge potential to supply the high quality fruit and vegetables which the world needs.

Exports, including fresh fruit and vegetables, will benefit considerably from the recent announcement by one of the world’s leading airlines to introduce new flights to Zambia and Lusaka.

Emirates SkyCargo is set to increase its operations on the booming Africa trade route by launching flights to Lusaka in Zambia and Harare in Zimbabwe from the beginning of February. This will increase the weekly Emirates SkyCargo capacity into and out of the continent to over 6,000 tonnes.

The addition of flights to the respective capitals comes less than three months after the launch of a dedicated weekly freighter to Accra and Lome, and means Emirates SkyCargo now has a total annual capacity of more than 300,000 tonnes.

According to news reports Emirates SkyCargo can now connect businesses in 22 countries across Africa to its network of more than 100 destinations, while also providing increased opportunities for key trading partners such as China and Japan.

"While many regions are experiencing challenging economic conditions, Africa – with a population in excess of one billion and rich in natural resources – is one of the few areas to record growth and the long-term outlook is very positive,” said Ram Menen, Emirates’ divisional senior vice-president cargo. "We expect demand to be strong for a variety of commodities going into and out of Lusaka and Harare and have no doubt the two destinations will be a strong addition to our African network."

The Dubai-Lusaka-Harare service will be operated five times a week by an A330-200, providing a total weekly cargo capacity of up to 160 tonnes. Fresh flowers, fruit and vegetables will be among the main commodities shipped out of Zimbabwe and Zambia, while trade is also expected to be generated by neighbouring countries.
 

News Archive