Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo arm of Dubai-based Emirates Airline, is adding new connections between European destinations and the Middle and Far East.
It plans to add two further weekly charter freighter services between Milan, Italy, and Southeast China, via Dubai, from the third quarter of this year
It expects fashion goods and pharmaceuticals, as well as general cargo, to be carried on the freighters.
Elsewhere, the current weekly freighter service connecting Dubai World Central (DWC) airport, Maastricht Aachen Airport in the Netherlands and Zaragoza Airport in Spain will now also stop in Beirut, Lebanon, before its return to Dubai.
General cargo and pharmaceuticals are expected to make up much of the airfreight flown into Beirut on the service out of Maastricht Aachen, while Zaragoza handles significant volumes of fashion goods and apparel, which can now be flown directly to Beirut.
777F capability
Badr Abbas, divisional senior vice president at Emirates SkyCargo, declared: “Harnessing the power and connectivity of Emirates’ global network, a fleet of over 260 passenger and freighter aircraft, and a multi-vertical portfolio of specialist logistics solutions, we have the scale and flexibility to keep trade flowing, even in the face of market instability.”
He continued: “As we receive our new Boeing 777 freighters, we are deploying them quickly and strategically to serve the unwavering demand across our network.
“Whether by layering on frequencies or adding new route stops, we will continue to evolve our operations, schedule and network in line with global trade patterns, to ensure we provide an unbeatable service to our customers.”
Last month (May), Emirates SkyCargo confirmed that it had just taken delivery of two new 777 freighters as part of previously announced orders to grow its air cargo capacity.
“Emirates SkyCargo has taken delivery of two new Boeing 777F aircraft, enhancing capacity and capabilities to better serve its global customers,” the airline said.
“Our growing fleet enables us to further expand our freighter network, reaching new destinations such as the recently announced Tokyo Narita and Copenhagen.”
Emirates confirmed in an email to Air Cargo News that there were 11 777Fs in Emirates’ fleet, with another 11 777Fs due to be delivered in line with previously announced orders.
Serving Europe
Emirates SkyCargo freighters serve more destinations in Europe than any other region on its global network.
It offers maindeck capacity in 45 freighter flights and bellyhold space in 545 passenger flights every week to/from the continent.
Over the course of the last financial year, Emirates SkyCargo uplifted an average of 6,900 tonnes from Europe every week, including pharmaceuticals from Denmark and Belgium, perishables such as fresh salmon from Norway and whisky from Glasgow, valuables from Geneva, automotive shipments from Frankfurt and general cargo from every destination.
Some 43% of the volume was transported to the UAE and Middle East, and a further 32% was carried to the Far East and Australasia.
On the up across the board
Emirates SkyCargo reported improvements in both cargo volumes and revenues in its last financial year as further freighter capacity was added.
The cargo business recorded a 7% increase in cargo volumes to 2.3m tonnes while cargo revenues improved by 18% to AED16.1bn in the financial year running to 31 March 2025.
The company said performance was boosted by the delivery of two new Boeing 777 freighters and two wet-leased Boeing 747 freighters.
