Aeroflot Cargo on track for 2010 freight goal, says CEO

AEROFLOT Cargo is likely to reach its 2010 air cargo target despite the necessity of imposing surcharges to cover skyrocketing fuel costs, according to airline's chief executive Oleg Korolevits.

Aeroflot Cargo anticipates handling 350,000 tonnes of air cargo in 2010, more than 250 per cent more than the 135,000 tonnes it carried in 2007, reported Reuters.

"This is our target. In 2010, we will have nine wide-body aircraft, so it is possible," said Mr Korolev, adding that the company deploys only four wide-body aircraft today.

"Since we could get 135,000 tonnes in 2007, this means that the target of 350,000 [tonnes in 2010] is very reasonable," he told a press conference during a visit to Frankfurt-Hahn airport, Aeroflot Cargo's main European hub.

Some Aeroflot Cargo customers have switched to rail, road and sea transport because of the increase in airfreight costs, he said, but would not elaborate, noted the news agency report.