Canty cargo boost

Press, 16 July 1986, Page 35

Canty cargo boost

The new direct flights from Christchurch by Singapore Airlines that began on October 8 offer cargo opportunities for Canterbury businesses. The flights will offer an extra 30 tonnes of air freight to Singapore a week, direct to and from Christchurch.

At present South Island air freight carried by the airline has been carried on Air New Zealand flights to Auckland to meet outgoing flights. Singapore Airlines has also taken delivery recently of a Combi 747,

half freight and half passenger, and will take delivery of a second early in September and a third later. It hopes to operate one of these a year to Auckland, further increasing the freight potential. Singapore is a superb destination for cargo exporters, as 40 international airlines at present use the Island republic’s busy airport. A spokeman for the airline last evening said that it would offer competitive rates for freight to Europe; this was an additional advantage to the trans-shipping facilities.

Potential inward cargo includes electronics equipment and tropical produce.

Christchurch is one of three new destinations to begin for Singapore Airlines in October. The others are Dacca, the capital of Bangaladesh, and Calcutta.

Singapore Airlines would promote cargo trade between Singapore and Christchurch, a cargo division spokesman said at a reception last evening to announce the commencement date of the new service.