Bustling Mideast market sparks dedicated air freighter boom

Cargo airlines have turned out in force at the recent Asian Aerospace 2007 conference to target new business in the Middle East.

Last year, the Mideast was again the world's fastest growing air cargo market in freight tonne kilometres (FTKs), according to the Airports Council International, which also forecast a 7.9 per cent annual growth to 2010.

The Mideast freight boom has caused more orders for aircraft manufacturers, as Middle Eastern airlines build fleets of dedicated freighters. In the past 12 months, Emirates, Etihad and Qatar placed orders for dedicated widebody freighters, while Gulf Air has said it is considering similar purchases, said a report by Flight Daily News, a member of US-based Reed Business Publications.

Emirates Skycargo has ordered 10 next-generation Boeing 747-8F freighters in a US$3.3 billion deal. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery from 2010. Eight Boeing 777Fs are also on order.

Last year, Emirates SkyCargo carried 1.2 million tonnes, generating revenue of $1.5 billion. "Worldwide air cargo traffic is projected to grow by more than six per cent annually for 20 years, tripling current traffic levels," said the airline's chairman and CEO, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum.

A new airport is being built as part of the Dubai Logistics City development. The $33 billion Dubai World Central International Airport will be built at Jebel Ali on a site measuring 140 square kilometres, 10 times the size of Dubai International Airport.

The new Dubai development will surpass Sharjah International Airport as the largest cargo hub in the UAE. The airport handles more than 24,000 tonnes of freight a month through five cargo terminals with a total floor area measuring 32,000 square metres.

Etihad Crystal Cargo of Abu Dhabi has also been growing rapidly since its inception in September 2004. It doubled its 2005 turnover of $98.5 million to more than $200 million in 2006. At this year's Paris Air Show it ordered three Airbus A330-200F freighters with a 69 tonne capacity, for delivery in 2009, the report said.

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al-Baker said the carrier added 11 widebody passenger aircraft to its fleet in 2006, and this raised the bellyhold capacity by around 50 per cent. But the biggest problem remains cargo capacity at Doha, which will not be solved until the new airport opens. "The only problem restricting us is the congestion at Doha," he said.