Source: Emirates
Emirates is expanding its recently launched end-to-end delivery solution, Emirates Courier Express, to Australia.
The service was initially launched in April to cover the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, South Africa and the UK but is now being expanded to four Australian cities - Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney – on 70 flights per week.
From these cities, the service offers last-mile delivery across the country.
Traditionally, cross-border delivery is managed via a global hub-and-spoke model, with a package making multiple stops before arriving at its end destination, the airline explained.
But with Emirates Courier Express, packages will travel from origin to destination directly, utilising Emirates’ global network and flight frequencies.
This reduces time in transit and package handling, Emirates added.
Dennis Lister, senior vice president of product and innovation, Emirates SkyCargo, said: "Since the early test phase of Emirates Courier Express, we knew Australia would be a key market.
"Logistically challenging and historically underserved, businesses and end consumers will feel the benefits of our direct connectivity, high frequency flight schedules and flexible, scalable solution."
Emirates said that only 6% of international shippers buy goods from Australia, according to the International Trade Administration.
This is in part due to the fluctuating cost of transport and long timelines.
Conversely, the inbound small parcel volume to Australia has increased by 45% in the last two years, and a record number of households are shopping online.
Emirates added that its courier service could be "integrated into customers’ existing software, while advanced tracking systems, real-time updates, and seamless integration ensures Emirates Courier Express customers (and their customers) have full visibility as their package moves worldwide".
