Emirates SkyCargo said it now offers over 21,000 tonnes of weekly tonnage in and out of East and Southeast Asia every week following the expansion of bellyhold operations to Hangzhou.
The cargo division of Emirates said dedicated Emirates SkyCargo freighters serve nine gateways in the region, with 44 weekly flights, the highest freighter flight density on the airline’s global network.
There are also 13 charter services to and from East Asia every week. Freighter and charter operations are supported by 311 weekly passenger flights, moving cargo via a mix of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s.
The airline has most recently launched passenger services to from Dubai Hangzhou, China. The service was launched in July and operates daily utilising Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, which offer around 16 tonnes of cargo capacity per flight.
Goods carried on the service include e-commerce goods, pharmaceuticals, smart devices, and other high-value products.
"As one of the world’s largest hubs for cross-border e-commerce, Hangzhou boasts a complete digital trade ecosystem and advanced logistics infrastructure, serving as a key international gateway for many Chinese brands," the airline said of the new service.
In total, Emirates SkyCargo now serves 25 gateways across 12 countries and territories in the region.
“East and Southeast Asia are not just anchors of our global network – they are shaping the future of global logistics, and global trade,” said Abdulla Alkhallafi, vice president of cargo commercial, Far East and Australasia.
“From cutting-edge manufacturing hubs to high-growth consumer markets, the region drives the pace of trade. Our strategic growth strategy and continued investment in East Asia and Southeast Asia reflects this as we remain laser-focused on building the capacity, routes and partnerships to best serve the exponential demand.”
East and Southeast Asia have long been key markets on Emirates SkyCargo’s global network. In an average week, Emirates SkyCargo uplifts over 450 tonnes of fresh fruit, vegetables, seafood and other perishable products; 100 tonnes of pharmaceuticals and medical devices; 75 tonnes of electronics, semi-conductors and smart goods; 180 tonnes of garments; and over 1,300 tonnes of e-commerce.
Beyond its own network and capacity, Emirates SkyCargo is also investing in partnerships.
In April, Emirates SkyCargo and Teleport, exclusive cargo partner of AirAsia, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create a partnership supporting trade and e-commerce flows.
In the same month, Emirates SkyCargo launched a weekly freighter flight from Dubai to Japan’s Narita International Airport, marking the first direct and scheduled freighter connectivity between Narita, near Tokyo, and the Middle East.
The freigher service from Narita carries pharmaceuticals, semi-conductor parts and large or oddly-shaped shipments such as machinery parts.
