November 23, 2016
The first of Cathay Pacific’s regular weekly freighter flights took off from Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport on Tuesday night.
Flight CX022 landed in Hong Kong early on Wednesday loaded with exports including premium loin cuts from Oakey Beef Exports on the Darling Downs.
The timing of the flights will mean fresh produce, such as mangoes and chilled meat, can be rapidly transported onto onward flights to destinations in mainland China, North America, Europe and the Middle East, or delivered to markets and restaurants in Hong Kong the next day.
“We have had an encouraging response from exporters and shippers in the southern half of Queensland as well as northern NSW,” Cathay Pacific Southwest Pacific general manager Nelson Chin said.
““We had a good mix of fresh produce to Hong Kong and Asia and oversize cargo to China, Vietnam, Taiwan and the UK on the first flight.”
Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport developer Mr John Wagner said the start of CX022 heralded a new opportunity for local exporters.
“The Federal Government has worked collaboratively with its various departments to make this service a reality for our region’s agricultural and exporting industries,” Mr Wagner said.
He said the airport was well-positioned to become an Australian air cargo hub.
“With intense competition for landing slots times within Australia’s major airports and limitations on airport land availability, we have the scope and capacity to support growth in trade between Australia and Asia,” Mr Wagner said.
Cathay Pacific Airways operates two dedicated freighter flights a week from Australia to Hong Kong. The flight serving Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport will be CX022.
The Boeing 747-8F has a cargo capacity of about 135,000 tonnes, carrying 34 pallets on the main deck and 12 on the lower deck. It also features a cargo door in the nose to assist with loading and unloading.
Cargo on board the first flight included turbines, a jet engine, 15 tonnes of milk powder and chilled meat and mangoes.
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