Emirates Converts 16 Passenger Planes to Carry Cargo

May 9—DUBAI — Emirates has converted 16 passenger planes to transport cargo and is also using some of its fleet to carry goods in the cabin.

Nabil Sultan, Emirates SkyCargo divisional senior vice president said the airline was studying its capacity, in an interview with Bloomberg TV on Sunday.

"So far we have converted 16 passenger aircraft to fully cargo flights," he said. "We also use the remaining fleet, where we have put cargo in the main cabin, especially to move essential PPE goods and various other medical material."

It comes as some big airlines are faced with competing forces of supply and demand in the cabins and bellies of their aircraft — as cargo volumes accelerate while at the same time passenger numbers remain subdued.

Earlier on Sunday Emirates said it would begin shipping aid for free into India to help fight the coronavirus.

It comes as air cargo demand has risen to its highest recorded level ever in the wake of the pandemic.

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