Freight includes personal protective equipment, toys and soap dispensers among others
In the wake of the pandemic, countries around the world have witnessed an increase in the demand for essential commodities such as personal protective equipment and medical devices.
However, with limited air cargo capacity available due to suspension of the majority of passenger flights, air cargo carriers have had to innovate to optimize capacity on cargo flights.
Since mid-April, Emirates SkyCargo has been transporting cargo on the seats and the overhead bins inside the passenger cabin of its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Placing cargo inside the aircraft cabin allows Emirates SkyCargo to transport more goods per flight, helping urgent cargo reach their destinations faster and allowing for more efficiency of flight operations.
For example cargo containing liquids and valuable cargo are some of the goods that are not allowed to be loaded on the passenger seats and overhead bins. Most perishables such as fruits and vegetables also have to still be loaded in the belly-hold of the aircraft.
Any cargo that is loaded inside the passenger cabin has to be packaged inside a suitable external container such as a plastic or cardboard box in accordance with the latest regulations outlined by IATA.
“Emirates SkyCargo has operated close to 150 flights globally with cargo in the passenger cabin to date and the cargo that most frequently gets priority to be loaded on,” remarked Henrik Ambak, Emirates Senior Vice President, Cargo Operations Worldwide.
