M'SIA AIR CARGO STILL GROWING, SAYS EMIRATES

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- Emirates Airline, which posted about eight percent growth in cargo volume for its Malaysian market in the financial year ended March 31, 2008, believes the country offers a great potential for the airline.

Its divisional senior vice president for cargo, Ram C. Menen said the
company has experienced steady growth in the last one and half-year despite
the slack in the global air cargo market.

"Overall, we have seen a slowdown in the industry (cargo) but for Malaysia,
we still grew between seven and eight percent during the 2007/2008
fiscal year," he told a media briefing in conjunction with the last day of the
24th International Air Cargo forum 2008, here Thursday.

Ram said that Malaysia's commitment in technology towards air cargo
handling and the positive growth in trade between United Arab Emirates (UAE) and
the country will help boost the industry.

The Dubai-based airline currently operates nine flights per week to Dubai
from Kuala Lumpur and will add another three flights per week from December
1.

On the outlook for the air cargo industry, Ram said that the airline
expected the industry to recover in the next 12 months with India and China
markets leading the growth.

"We expect the industry to start seeing some stability coming back
into the market in the next two to three months while in the next 12 months, we
are going to see some upward trend," he said.

Boeing has projected the air cargo industry to grow at an annualised
average
of 5.8 percent during a 20-year period with the world freighter fleet increasing
from 1,948 to 3,892 airplanes.