More freight-only passenger flights expected over next month

The drastic cuts to passenger flights because of COVID-19 have resulted in massive reductions in cargo capacity.

Auckland Airport's general manager Scott Tasker says about 80% of air freight to and from New Zealand is usually carried in passenger planes.

He says the reductions in passenger flights have resulted in a massive cut in cargo capacity, from 25,000 tonnes in April 2019 to 15,500 tonnes in April 2020.

He says at the moment Air New Zealand, Air China, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Fiji Airways, Hainan Airlines and Korean Air are operating passenger aircraft with cargo-only loads to and from Auckland Airport.

They are carrying priority cargo including medical supplies, pharmaceuticals and parcels coming into New Zealand and respiratory equipment and fresh produce heading back out overseas.

The freight-only passenger flights are in addition to the 20 dedicated freighters that land in Auckland each week.

[Source: RNZ]