Emirates SkyCargo signs contract with EADS EFW for conversion of three A310-300
Dubai/Dresden, 11 December 2004
Emirates SkyCargo and EADS EFW have signed a contract for the conversion of three A310-300 freighter aircraft, formerly operated by Aeroflot.
The converted aircraft are cause for triple celebrations for Emirates Cargo. These will be the first Airbus freighters in Emirates’ fleet, and also the first ones owned by the airline. With this order, Emirates will be the launch customer for Airbus freighters with side-by-side loading capability of 96”x125” pallets.
The A310-300Fs are expected to enter Emirates’ fleet from the middle of next year – one in July 2005 and the other two in January 2006. The wide-bodied freighters will have a payload capacity of 39 tonnes of cargo, offering excellent performance capabilities and fuel efficiency.
Ram Menen, Emirates’ Senior Vice President Cargo said: “This is a landmark order for Emirates SkyCargo. We intend to use the aircraft on key regional routes and high-density cargo markets in the Middle East and African region, the Indian subcontinent, and the Mediterranean region. The new aircraft will provide flexibility and more capacity to our customers; help us rationalize payloads and service key markets better with quicker turnarounds; and enhance Dubai’s role as a regional cargo hub.”
The aircraft will be equipped with Auxiliary Centre Tanks to increase their range, enabling one-stop operations from Dubai to the U.S. and countries in the South Pacific.
Horst Emker, President and CEO of EADS EFW said: “We are very pleased to welcome Emirates SkyCargo as our 20th customer for the increasingly popular A300/A310 wide-body freighter family. It’s a source of great pride to know that converted Airbus aircraft will be playing a crucial part in the growing international freight route structure of a tremendously successful carrier that is Emirates. I know that Emirates SkyCargo will take full advantage of the A310-300 freighter’s great potential.”
The A310F’s capability to use standard cargo containers represents maximum interlining potential with Emirates’ two gigantic A380Fs, expected to enter the fleet in 2008. This will reduce the need to re-package shipments, facilitating rapid transfers, providing quicker service and avoiding damage.
As of today, EADS has delivered a total of 108 converted freighter aircraft to 19 customers worldwide, 48 A310-200s, 34 A300B4s, 14 A310-300s and 12 A300-600s. EADS EFW has a backlog of 23 Airbus wide body cargo conversions until the end of 2005.
EFW, headquartered in Dresden, Germany, is the centre for Airbus passenger to freighter conversion within EADS. EFW is also the centre of excellence for the production of fibre-reinforced sandwich components for the entire family of Airbus, including production and conversion freighter.
For further information please contact:
| Cornelia von Ammon | EADS EFW |
Tel.: +49 351 8839 2169 Fax: +49 351 8839 2178 www.efw.eads.net mailto: Cornelia.von.Ammon@efw.eads.net |
