Emirates SkyCargo maintains perishables supply chains
15 / 10 / 2020
Following the disruption to passenger services — and bellyhold capacity — caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, supply chains for food products were put at risk.
Emirates SkyCargo said that during this time, it maintained the supply chain for perishables and worked quickly to restore its international cargo connectivity.
The carrier increased its network destinations from 35 in March to 130 in October, providing airfreight capacity on its freighter aircraft, preighters and in the bellyhold of passenger flights.
“Currently around 500 tonnes of food items are transported every day in the cargo hold of Emirates aircraft across the world,” the carrier said.
Produce carried on Emirates SkyCargo flights includes:
- Several tonnes of avocados and other vegetables grown and harvested in Mexico, which were flown on a freighter flight from Guadalajara, Mexico, on October 2, destined for supermarket shelves in Europe and the Middle East;
- Fresh fruits and vegetables including green beans, pineapples, mangoes and avocados from Kenya, flown from Nairobi to the Middle East on Emirates’ 10 weekly flights in October;
- Meat and fruit including grapes and watermelons, exported from Australia and New Zealand to international markets;
- Coconuts and jackfruit from Thailand, mangoes from India, sweet potatoes from Egypt, blueberries from the UK, cheese from France and Italy, salmon from Norway, cherries from Chile, seafood from Pakistan, baked goods from the Netherlands and tropical fruits from Vietnam, all transported daily on Emirates’ flights across its global network.
Emirates SkyCargo added that it is a “socially responsible carrier”, which ensures that adequate cargo capacity is available on its widebody aircraft to transport urgent medical supplies and food items during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“By doing this, the air cargo carrier can help countries and supermarkets maintain their food supplies and at the same time help farmers reliant on food exports continue to make their livelihoods in these challenging times,” the company said.
