Emirates SkyCargo launches e-freight and Iraq service
23 / 01 / 2011
JUST a month after launching its inaugural paperless flight from Mauritius to Dubai Emirates SkyCargo has made a further shift towards e-freight by putting paperless customs processing into operations at Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai airports.
The UAE-based company has put in place the necessary infrastructure for a planned shift soon to e-freight at all the 10 airports in India that it operates from.
The move follows the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) guideline to move to a paperless customs processing by 2014. IATA says this will bring a net saving of US$4.9 billion.
Ram Menen, divisional senior vice-president, Emirates Airline, notes that air cargo generally grows at twice the pace of GDP growth, and with globalisation, business is building up in all segments.
Emirates hopes to implement the Indian Customs EDI System 1.5 application software for the e-freight system this year.
The cargo airline will also celebrate another first on 2 February by commencing its service to Basra, Iraq,
Emirates SkyCargo will be transporting 130 tonnes of freight per week between Dubai and Iraq’s largest port, strategically located close to key oil fields.
