Emirates to increase cargo capacity from India

NEW DELHI: Dubai-based international air carrier Emirates is planning to take its cargo capacity from India to 2,647 tonnes by February 2009 following the airline's increased number of flights.
    
"Cargo movement will gain momentum with increased capacity to support the export of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, garments, chemicals, meat, fruits, vegetables etc., to the Middle East, Africa, Europe and America," Emirates Vice-President (India and Nepal) Orhan Abbas said.
    
The current cargo capacity of Emirates from Mumbai is 572 tonnes which will be increased to 641 tonnes. While cargo capacity from Delhi will be increased to 389 tonnes from the present 306 tonnes every week.
    
This comes following the airline's decision to introduce seven additional flights per week each to Mumbai and Delhi. The airline at present operates 28 flights from Mumabi and 18 flights from Delhi every week.
    
The cargo capacity of Emirates from Bangalore will be increased to 302 tonnes from the present 249 tonnes every week in the wake of introduction of five additional flights in its present 15 weekly flights.
    
"This increase is expected to provide significant thrust to goods movement from Bangalore which exports electronic hardware, engineering goods, chemicals and pharmaceuticals and readymade garments," Abbas said.
    
The cargo capacity from Chennai will be increased to 309 tonnes from the present 238 tonnes and from Hyderabad 306 tonnes to 344 tonnes every week. Emirates will add five flights to Chennai and three to Hyderabad by February 1, 2009.
    
Chennai is one of the India's export hub of goods like textiles and garments, electrical and electronics goods, machinery, spares, leather and leather products and mobile phones.
    
Emirates will add four flights to Kochi, the commercial hub of Kerala, hence increasing the cargo capacity to 221 tonnes per week from the 176 tonnes.
    
The airline operates 10 weekly flights from Kochi at present.