Emirates SkyCargo celebrates the first anniversary of loading urgently needed PPE, related supplies and other vital cargo into the seats and inside the overhead compartments of its Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft.

In response to the pressing demand for the transport of PPE during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic at the end of April 2020, Emirates’ freight division adjusted its operating model to load selected goods inside the cabin of the aircraft on the passenger seats and in the overhead compartments to make room for urgent cargo on its flights.

In one year, the air cargo carrier has now operated more than 3,100 flights with cargo in the seats and in the overhead compartments carrying more than 11,000 tons of vital cargo, the equivalent of the cargo carried over 800,000 seats of plane. Emirates SkyCargo continues to experience significant demand for transporting PPE and other cargo inside the aircraft cabin.

Also read: Emirates SkyCargo completes one year of passenger transport operations

In order to safely load cargo onto the seats and inside the overhead compartments of a passenger aircraft, Emirates SkyCargo had to quickly conduct a safety risk assessment and develop a set of processes and procedures to instruct both the team in Dubai and the ground support partners through Emirates SkyCargo network outdoor stations are the most efficient and secure way to load and secure cargo inside passenger cabins . The team also developed an intelligent calculation application that allowed global teams to calculate the optimal cargo capacity inside the aircraft cabin.

The procedures developed also specified the maximum weight and dimensions of individual packages as well as the types of cargo that could be allowed inside the cabin and additional safety guidelines. For example, all perishable cargo packaging intended for loading on seats and in bins must have an adequate internal absorbent layer.

Emirates SkyCargo has also introduced a special coating for the passenger seats of its Boeing 777-300ERs to prevent accidental damage to the interior of the aircraft, such as personal entertainment screens.

PPE and other medical supplies are generally the most common goods carried on aircraft seats and inside bins. The nature of these items allows for smaller individual boxes for easier handling and loading inside the aircraft. Other general cargo, including clothing and apparel, dry food, dental supplies and sporting goods, were also carried on seats.

Emirates SkyCargo continued to serve as an important global connector for urgently needed goods and supplies during the Covid-19 pandemic through its fast and flexible approach and working closely with its customers. Currently, the freight carrier connects more than 135 cities on six continents with its regular weekly freight flights.