A plane departed from Malta to Dubai last week carrying an unusual cargo: a luxury sports car worth €225,000.
The blue Porsche Panamera Turbo S was loaded onto a Boeing 777 on Wednesday afternoon, with an Emirates loadmaster specially flown in to oversee the operation.
The car transport was a rare occurrence at Malta International Airport and the first such incident in several years.
“It’s not something that happens every day, it’s quite exceptional to transport a car,” said Paul Freri Sorrell, Emirates’ country manager for Malta.
A Porsche is loaded onto an Emirates Boeing 777 at MIA. Video: Matthew Mirabelli
He noted that this was only the sixth time this has happened in his 26 years with the airline and called it a “special day” for his team. A team of Emirates and ground handling staff were busy on the runway loading the luxury sports car onto the 340-seat Boeing plane.
The maneuver saw the car begin its 4,000km journey to Dubai, where it would blend in with luxury vehicles driving among the city’s glittering skyscrapers.
Fleuri Sorrell added that the last time Emirates sent a car from Malta was about 10 years ago, when it airlifted a Ferrari, but that the airline now sends cars by plane almost daily across its global network.
“They are usually luxury cars. People who emigrate sometimes take their cars with them. They are their treasures.”
An Emirates staff member told The Times of Malta that there had been instances of passengers taking their cars with them while on holiday.
Sending a car by air costs about 7,000 euros and requires special care, but that’s nothing compared to the cost of a new Porsche Panamera Turbo S, which retails for more than 225,000 euros.
“There are strict protocols to follow, but if you stick to them you should be safe,” Fleuri Soler said, adding that it was important to secure cars and carry as little fuel as possible when traveling.
The man responsible for overseeing these procedures is Emirates’ head of cargo management, Mohammed Fakir, who is responsible for making sure the planes are fully secured in flight and arrive at their destinations “without scratches or other damage.”
Mr Fakir has held the position for about two years and flew to Malta specially for the occasion.
“Having your car loaded gives you the opportunity to travel the world, meet different people and have different experiences,” he said.
To be stowed in the cargo hold, the Porsche was placed on a metal platform and lifted down the side of the plane.
Staff said the Boeing 777, the world’s largest twin-engine jet, carried a total of about seven tonnes of cargo on Wednesday’s flight, including medicines and fresh fish.
It is unclear whether the Porsche is sentimentally important to its owner or was taken for other reasons – Emirates staff were unable to disclose information, citing confidentiality agreements.
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