Carrier deploys 777Fs on pharma and e-commerce routes after sustained ad hoc demand from Belgian cargo hub drives scheduled service launch
Emirates SkyCargo has expanded its European freighter network with the addition of scheduled flights to Liege.
The new service will operate five times per week using one of the airline’s Boeing 777 freighter aircraft.
Three of the flights will connect Liege with Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai to transport critical, temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals.
The other two flights will originate in Hong Kong and carry e-Commerce shipments to and through Liege.
The carrier said it had decided to launch the scheduled operation after seeing sustained demand for its ad hoc flights to the Belgian cargo specialist airport.
The goods carried on the ad hoc flights included fresh-cut flowers and e-commerce packages, as well as dedicated charters for horses travelling to global competitions.
Emirates SkyCargo vice president of cargo commercial for Europe said: “In 2025, we moved more than 15,000 tonnes of cargo from Belgium, across freighters and bellyhold capacity on our double daily passenger flights to Brussels, and we anticipate significant growth with the deployment of five weekly freighters.
”Liege Airport’s freighter-first operations, world-class infrastructure and well-connected logistics ecosystem enables us to better serve Belgium and its neighbouring countries and deliver consistently high service levels for our customers.”
Emirates SkyCargo said that Europe is one of its busiest regions with operations extending to 38 freighter and 538 passenger flights every week.
The new service comes shortly after the airline confirmed plans to expand its freighter fleet by 10 aircraft this year.
The airline’s freighter fleet currently stands at 11 Boeing 777Fs and five wet-leased Boeing 747s. By the end of the year, it plans to operate at least 21 777 freighters.
Last year Liege Airport saw its cargo volumes increase by 14% to 1.3m tonnes.
