We noticed the work on the office building in Avondale a few months ago and only recently, when the branding went up, did we realise that it was an Emirates development. This is one business that is in Zimbabwe to stay.
In a statement received by Zimbo Jam this week Emirates announced that Emirates SkyCargo, its freight division, will launch a dedicated SkyCargo freighter flight into Harare International Airport.
The cargo-only Boeing 777 aircraft will arrive from Dubai every Friday. From Harare the flight will continue to Johannesburg before returning to Dubai.
The SkyCargo airplane has the capacity to carry 103 tonnes of freight, adding to the existing weekly cargo capacity of 160 tonnes on Emirates’ scheduled five-time-a-week passenger service.
An Emirates SkyCargo freighter.
Emirates SkyCargo will transport commodities such as garments, computer parts, and pharmaceuticals to Zimbabwe - from the likes of the Far East, Australasia, the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East, Europe and North America. Fresh flowers, fruit and vegetables will be among the main commodities shipped in the other direction, while trade is also expected to be generated by neighbouring countries.
Supporting the thriving trade between Africa and the rest of the world, SkyCargo’s weekly cargo capacity into and out of the continent is already more 6,000 tonnes since the launch of the airline’s initial passenger service to Harare and Lusaka on February 1.
