Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo, “In 2025, we built the runway for what comes next. We strengthened the core pillars of our business by expanding our network and innovating with our product portfolio and operations to deliver what our customers need today – and tomorrow. 2026 is set to be a pivotal year for our fleet expansion, with the expected delivery of up to 10 Boeing 777Fs by December, fuelling our next era of growth. This influx of capacity unlocks opportunities for network and scheduling expansions, offer more flexibility to scale our solutions and enable us to deliver even greater value across our global network.”

STRONGER FLEET, WIDER NETWORK, BIGGER IMPACT

At the start of the year, the first of Emirates SkyCargo’s Boeing 777Fs were delivered with another two in the following months, allowing the airline to retire older aircraft and deliver on its commitment to operate one of the youngest fleets in the sky. The fleet currently stands at 11 Boeing 777Fs and 5 wet-leased Boeing 747s. The first Emirates’ passenger aircraft entered the conversion programme, with the view to start operations as a fully-fledged freighter in 2026. By the end of next year, Emirates SkyCargo aims to operate a fleet of at least 21 freighters, adding significantly more cargo capacity to current operations. 

Delivering on its long-term vision to add more freighter destinations to its network, in 2025 the airline launched freighter services to eight new destinations: Copenhagen, Narita, Bangkok, Mumbai, Beirut, Conakry, Phnom Penh (KTI) and Hanoi, while high-volume destinations such as Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Johannesburg were better served with additional weekly frequencies. The recently launched Hanoi was swiftly bolstered to a four-weekly service, to cater to the demand. As of year’s end, Emirates SkyCargo reaches 42 global destinations across six continents with freighter services. 

Throughout 2025, Emirates SkyCargo strengthened its network of over 180 global interline partners, inking new agreements to expand its global footprint. In February, the airline signed with Africa-based Astral Aviation and then in April, with Southeast Asia’s Teleport, to create seamless connectivity into primary, secondary and tertiary airports in two regions that are burgeoning with trade opportunities. The airline continues to reinforce its existing strategic partnerships with global airlines such as Air Canada, United and Virgin Atlantic, to reach every corner of the globe.  

FUTURE-FIT OPERATIONS

Even as Emirates SkyCargo draws up plans for its all-new facility at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), it continued to invest in its current operations to deliver peak performance. The airline upgraded its on-road fleet by taking delivery of 40 Euro 6 trucks from MAN Trucks, bringing the latest low-emissions and driver-centric technology to the region. By Q1 2026, the fleet will be bolstered with the delivery of five hydrogen-powered trucks, marking a key milestone in the company’s gradual transition to alternate fuel vehicles.  

Exploring next-gen cargo delivery solutions, Emirates SkyCargo and LODD Autonomous will collaborate on the development and feasibility of VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) aircraft for first and last mile delivery throughout 2026.    

The rise in digital bookings – coupled with the decline in manual bookings – continued to grow throughout the year, as more customers opted for seamless and efficient processes. By December 2025, almost 80% of all shipments on Emirates SkyCargo are booked digitally, driven predominately by eSkyCargo, and followed by the third-party digital marketplaces where the airline is present and direct customer API integrations. Digitising other critical cargo processes, Emirates SkyCargo become the first carrier in the region to adopt PayCargo’s solution, introducing instant payments via credit card or direct debit, as opposed to the traditional and inefficient cash transactions. Looking ahead to 2026, the airline will explore further enhancements to its digital toolbelt, such as adding new features and products that refine the customer journey. 

SOLVING TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES WITH NEW PRODUCTS

Emirates SkyCargo remained airline of choice for all types of shipments – from moving over 14,600 beloved family pets to transporting the first ever prototype of the Koenigsegg supercar to Mille Miglia in the UAE. 

2025 saw the landmark launch of Emirates Courier Express, the airline’s door-to-door delivery solution, that sets new benchmarks in cross-border delivery. Within months, the solution had already scaled to launch in Australia and Germany, with a roadmap of upcoming launches into the world’s largest economies throughout 2026. To date, the solution has delivered over 50,000 packages with an average delivery time across its network of 3 days, and an average of 1 day between the UK and UAE. 

Harnessing the technical expertise of its team, Emirates SkyCargo launched the Aerospace and Engineering vertical, featuring an optimised AOG service and an all-new Aircraft Engines offering, meticulously balancing speed and security into specialised solutions. Emirates SkyCargo has recorded a 100% increase in the movement of individual engines, compared to the same time period last year, with demand continuing to grow – something the airline will be better placed to serve with the future aircraft deliveries. Earning its stripes, the airline transported Arab Satellite 813 from Al Ain to Shanghai, showcasing the new vertical’s precision, care and reliability. 

Fresh, dedicated to the movement of food, flowers and other perishables and the airline’s biggest vertical by tonnage, grew by 10% uplifting an additional 25,700 tonnes in comparison to 2024 – the equivalent of 275 million apples. As the UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Agreements (CEPAs) come into effect, the airline will continue to keep perishables moving from farm to table in as little as 24 hours. 

With the burgeoning global demand for critical and personalised patient treatments such as clinical trials or cell and gene therapies, Emirates SkyCargo recorded a 54% increase in volume on Vital, the airline’s dedicated white glove service for the most sensitive pharmaceutical shipments. Emirates SkyCargo continues to invest in its infrastructure, technology and processes to reinforce its reputation as an undisputed market leader in the life sciences and healthcare vertical, moving 2,000 tonnes of pharma every week.  

The increased volume of mobile phones and other personal electronic devices being manufactured in Vietnam and India drove a 30% uptick in the airline’s Secure solution. Emirates SkyCargo met the demand with a mixture of freighter services and SEA-AIR. 

Emirates SkyCargo continues to set benchmarks for excellence in global logistics. In 2026, the airline will build on this strong foundation to deliver on its long-term strategy which includes doubling its current capacity, adding 20 new freighter destinations to its network and shaping the future of the industry with smart, digital-first products and services.

In 2025, Emirates SkyCargo transported over 14,600 cats, dogs and other domestic pets – an average of 40 pets every day! These globetrotting critters travelled all over the airline’s network, with the top cities including London, Melbourne, Glasgow, Cape Town, Paris, Mumbai, Toronto and, of course, Dubai. Over 1,000 pets made the ultra-long haul relocation flight from the UK to Australia or New Zealand, and another 100 travelled even further, leaving the snowy tundra of Canada for the outback of Australia.

No matter the pet, nor the distance, Emirates SkyCargo provides a stress free journey for the traveller, and their human family, with its bespoke Pet solution. Fully compliant with IATA’s Live Animal Regulations (LAR), the service is safe, comfortable and reliable, with the Emirates flair for hospitality. All animals departing, arriving or transiting through Dubai, are hosted at a dedicated Pet Lounge, that offers a calm and relaxing space to unwind, with 24/7 animal care specialists on-site to offer exercise, cleaning, feeding, and cuddles on demand. Specially designed vehicles chauf-fur pets between the lounge and aircraft, and ensure they are last on and first off, just like all VIP flyers. It goes without saying that all facilities, aircraft and ground vehicles are temperature-controlled to enable comfortable travel, even in Dubai’s summer months. 

Not only has Emirates SkyCargo won the pets ‘pawprint of approval’, but the industry’s too. The airline was recently recognised by the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA) as the airline of choice for animal transports, winning top spot in four out of six regions. Emirates SkyCargo, who has been a key member of IPATA since 2015, has been recognised by the industry’s leading association every year it has participated.

Dennis Lister, Senior Vice President of Product and Innovation, Emirates SkyCargo said, “As a team of pet parents ourselves we have designed a solution that prioritises each animal’s comfort, safety and care at every step of their journey. Across our vast global network, we deliver a consistent service underpinned by expert teams of specialists and world-class infrastructure to offer peace of mind to our customers – both the animals and their human companions. We will continue to invest in our solution and operations to deliver an outstanding experience.”

Beyond pet services, Emirates SkyCargo also offers specialised solutions for the movement of other animals. The airline’s Equine solution is widely regarded as world-class, providing an unbeatable in-flight experience with purpose-designed stalls complete with adjustable roofs, ventilation covers to control light and temperature and onboard F&B including hay nets, shavings and water. At Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), the airline offers custom-designed facilities, including 45 horse stalls and a permanent horse ramp to allow horses to transfer from the ground transport vehicle to the horse stall easily and mitigate any risk of injury.

This year, Emirates SkyCargo transported over 2,600 horses, including eight prized Lipizzaner horses from the Spanish Riding School in Vienna to the UAE for the opening of the Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts School in November. The world-famous white horses flew from Frankfurt to Dubai with Equine.

From domestic cats to jungle cats, Emirates SkyCargo is an active participant in wildlife rescue missions. Working closely with world-renowned animal welfare organisations, this year Emirates SkyCargo transported four lion cubs from a life in captivity into a sanctuary in South Africa, where they are now able to roam freely in a protected environment. The airline continues its longstanding campaign to keep wildlife wild, taking a zero-tolerance stand against illegal wildlife trafficking and the carriage of all hunting trophies, even where permissible by law.

From Christchurch crayfish and Hawke’s Bay lamb to Central Otago cherries and Auckland orchids, high-quality New Zealand produce is gaining ground in Middle Eastern markets. With CEPA eliminating tariffs and streamlining customs procedures, volumes of these premium exports are expected to continue rising.

Emirates operates two daily flights between New Zealand and Dubai using its iconic A380 aircraft, a direct daily service from Auckland and a daily service from Christchurch via Sydney. In addition to its daily passenger aircraft, Emirates also flies two freighters into Auckland Airport weekly, giving Kiwi importers and exporters up to 600 tonnes of premium freight capacity every week. 

NZ Bloom sees UAE demand bloom

One of the clearest examples of this growing opportunity is NZ Bloom, a specialist exporter of fresh-cut flowers. The company has seen demand for its New Zealand-grown orchids in Dubai increase by an average of 50% year-on-year over the past two seasons, making the UAE one of its fastest-growing markets globally.

David Ballard, Owner of NZ Blooms says: “Approximately 90% of the orchids grown in New Zealand are sold to international markets, with the UAE one of the largest growing. Over two years, we’ve seen demand in Dubai double, which will only continue with the removal of import taxes. Dubai in particular is a major growth market for us, and the UAE is a real pillar to our business.”

“Effective linkages from New Zealand to major cities around the world are absolutely critical. We can do as well as we want with the product, but if you don’t have really good connections into lots of major cities, you will never be able to run a commercial business out of it. You need to be able to get this beautiful product in front of people really quickly to achieve that scale, which Emirates Sky Cargo has helped us do.”

“Flowers are also very temperature sensitive, and obviously Dubai is a really hot place, so Emirates’ cold storage chain is absolutely critical to keeping our product in great condition as it moves around the world.”

Including its distribution of cut flowers to the UAE and further around the world, Emirates SkyCargo helps export nearly 10,000 tonnes of perishable goods from New Zealand every year.

Global reach, local reliability

Through its hub in Dubai, a leading global logistics centre, Emirates SkyCargo connects New Zealand exporters to more than 145 destinations across six continents, with efficient transit times and specialised handling for time- and temperature-sensitive goods.

Wayne Turkington, New Zealand Cargo Manager, at Emirates SkyCargo says:

“The implementation of CEPA marks an exciting new chapter in trade between the UAE and New Zealand. 22 years ago when Emirates SkyCargo first started operating in New Zealand, the UAE was New Zealand’s 30th largest trading partner. Now we’re up to 11. The new agreement offers huge opportunities for this to only go up, with exporters able to build on volumes, and add more price competition against global competition.”

As a critical enabler of the modern ‘Aerial Silk Road’, Emirates SkyCargo mirrors the overland and maritime trade routes of old with a strategic network of air corridors and logistics hubs. Whether it’s delivering South Island seafood to high-end restaurants in Dubai, or North Island flowers to florists in Europe, Emirates SkyCargo plays a vital role in New Zealand’s international trade.

Leveraging the airline’s recently launched Aerospace and Engineering vertical, Emirates SkyCargo provided stringent levels of environment control and security throughout Arab Satellite 813’s earthbound journey. From NSSTC’s Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) facility in Al Ain, the satellite was trucked to Emirates SkyCargo’s state-of-the-art facility at Dubai World Central via a bespoke branded truck. Upon arrival, the satellite was housed in a dedicated temperature-controlled area, before it boarded EK9874, a Boeing 777 freighter, to Shanghai, China.

Commenting on the shipment, Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo said, “Given the highly technical and irreplaceable value of Arab Satellite 813, the National Space Science and Technology Center needed to be certain that the transportation would be handled with precision, care and reliability – the cornerstones of our Aerospace and Engineering vertical. Working in lockstep with various stakeholders before, during and after the shipment, we provided a bespoke and seamless multi-modal solution all the way from Al Ain to Shanghai. We are proud to support the UAE’s bold and ambitious space endeavours.”

The Arab Satellite 813 is an observation satellite which is intended to monitor earth, the environment and the climate. It was initiated under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as a landmark initiative to enhance Arab cooperation in space and opens the opportunity for Arab scientists and researchers to actively participate in the development and use of space technologies.

Commenting on this milestone, Mr. Ali Al Shehhi, Director of the National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC) at UAEU, said: “The Arab Satellite 813 represents a milestone in the trajectory of joint Arab space efforts and demonstrates the Center’s ability to lead and execute advanced space projects that elevate the UAE’s position among leading nations in this vital sector. At NSSTC, we take pride in our role in advancing scientific research, technological development, and the training of national talent capable of shaping the future of space. Together with our strategic partners, we are working to lay the foundations for an integrated and sustainable Arab space ecosystem.”

Emirates SkyCargo is no stranger to space exploration. In 2018, the airline was a part of UAE history as it chartered the first satellite developed and built by Emirati engineers in the UAE, KhalifaSat, from Dubai to South Korea. Building on this expertise, Emirates SkyCargo then uplifted the Amazonina-1 satellite from Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil to Chennai, India, where it was launched to monitor the ecosystem of its namesake, the Amazon Rainforest, to name just a few missions the airline has supported.

Celebrating the UAE’s visionary national space initiatives and the synergies between aviation and aerospace, Emirates also hosted a one-off flight in collaboration with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC). An Emirates A380 was emblazoned with a specially designed astronaut decal as national heroes and astronauts, Dr Sultan AlNeyadi and Hazzaa AlMansoori, joined as guests of honour.

Dubai, UAE, 10 November 2025 – Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo arm of the world’s largest international airline, has upgraded its on-road fleet of trucks with the latest-generation Euro 6 models from MAN Trucks, in collaboration with Allied Transport Company. Emirates SkyCargo is the first adopter of the long-haul, heavy commercial Euro 6 vehicles in the region, introducing the most advanced truck technology into its ground operations with 40 vehicles.

The engine in the Euro 6 trucks meets the most stringent emissions standards, resulting in significantly lower levels of harmful pollutants compared to previous models. By replacing 40 trucks on its fleet with 40 Euro 6 models, Emirates SkyCargo anticipates a 17%* annual reduction in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from trucking. This builds on the airline’s commitment to implement fuel- and emissions-saving initiatives across ground operations.

Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo, said: “The addition of the Euro 6 trucks to our fleet is an important evolution in our commitment to more sustainable operations, and to investing in future-ready technology that will fuel our next era of growth. We expect cargo volumes to and through Dubai will continue to grow, driven by Dubai’s strategic Economic Agenda and are ready to play our part in better facilitating global trade by deploying the right equipment and infrastructure across our operations.”

Beyond the low-emissions platform, the Euro 6 are packed with a suite of driver-focused technologies to enhance connectivity, safety and security. Every vehicle is equipped with kerb mirrors, reverse cameras and blind-spot reduction for 360° visibility improvement, while new intelligent driver-assist features elevate road safety standards – such as the AI-powered Driver Monitoring System, which triggers a real-time safety alert when it detects driver distraction or fatigue.

The advanced technology also reinforces security measures for both driver and cargo in transit. Dual camera coverage simultaneously records the front of the truck and in-cabin, providing full visibility at all times. Combined with GPS and cloud tracking, Emirates SkyCargo will have access to live fleeting monitoring, video transmission and real-time insights for more informed data-driven decision making.

Ali Bin Beyat, Chief Executive Officer, Allied Transport Company, said: “The long-term relationship between Allied Transport and Emirates SkyCargo reflects our shared commitment to innovation, safety, and sustainability in logistics. The introduction of the first long-haul Euro 6 fleet to the Middle East marks a major step forward in our collective effort to drive cleaner, smarter, and more efficient transport operations. At Allied Transport, we believe that efficiency and environmental responsibility go hand in hand, and this milestone showcases how enduring industry relationships and advanced technologies can together create meaningful progress toward a more sustainable future for regional logistics.”

Moving over 1,000 tonnes of cargo every day, Emirates SkyCargo’s truck fleet serves as a conveyer between Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) and Dubai International Airport (DXB), traversing the 77 KM bonded corridor up to six times per day, per truck. Critical to the seamless handling of cargo across it’s dual-airport hub, the investment in the new truck fleet will further enhance efficiencies and set new benchmarks in the airline’s on-ground operations.

 ###

Notes to editors

• CO₂ emission reduction is based on a comparison with the existing truck models.
• Considered DEFRA 2025 emissions factor of 2.628 kg CO₂/litre for diesel.

Dubai, UAE, November 4, 2025 – Emirates Courier Express has grown its footprint in Europe with the start of operations in Germany. Headquartered from Frankfurt, the groundbreaking door-to-door cross-border delivery solution is primed to serve Germany’s manufacturing hub and add a new, more direct offering to Europe’s B2B supply chains and B2C shippers. 

The launch into Germany is a strategic development in Emirates Courier Express’ expansion plans, enabling the airline to better serve one of Europe’s most prominent production hubs. Within a four-hour radius of Frankfurt, Emirates Courier Express will connect some of the biggest manufacturers in life sciences and healthcare, textiles, automotive, aviation and industrial engineering with their international suppliers, partners and businesses with bespoke, scalable logistics solutions. 

Connecting Dubai and Frankfurt with 21 weekly services in each direction, Emirates flight schedule conveniently offers morning, afternoon and evening slots, allowing for multiple departures each day. Coupled with Frankfurt’s excellent road connectivity into other major cities and towns, Emirates Courier Express will serve the whole of Germany with delivery timelines of just 3 to 5 days. 

Dennis Lister, Senior Vice President of Product and Innovation, Emirates SkyCargo said, “With our high-frequency flight schedule and the flexibility of our world-class infrastructure, Emirates Courier Express brings a new dynamic to Germany’s logistics ecosystem. Working hand in hand with customers, we can provide tailormade solutions to a variety of industries, carrying everything from pharmaceuticals to automotive spare parts, and provide quicker, more direct shipments from Germany and into key markets such as the Middle East, Africa and Australia.” 

The direct connectivity between Frankfurt and Dubai significantly reduces the shipments time in transit and package handling. While the vast majority of Emirates Courier Express packages will travel on the passenger flights, Emirates also operates six weekly freighters into Frankfurt, adding a new dimension to the existing solution by enabling customers to move shipments of all shapes and sizes quickly, reliably and efficiently. 

Prioritising ease of business, Emirates Courier Express’ is entirely digital, with a purpose-built tech platform integrating directly into customer software and provide advanced tracking systems and real-time updates from collection to delivery.  

To find out how Emirates Courier Express could redefine your approach to international delivery, visit our website.

Dubai, UAE, 30 October 2025 – Building on the airline’s significant network expansion across East and Southeast Asia, Emirates SkyCargo has deployed a weekly freighter to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). Already operating the largest and most diversified route network of any non-Asian airline, the new freighter destination provides regional customers with more flexibility to move their goods worldwide, via Dubai.

The cargo arm of the world’s largest international airline now serves 43 global destinations with its dedicated freighter fleet, 11 of which are in East and Southeast Asia.

Guided by the government’s longstanding ‘Thailand 4.0’ economic vision, the country has invested significantly in innovation and developing more advanced technologies and are emerging as world leaders in next-generation automotive, smart electronics, medical and biotechnology, robotics and more. With its specialist product portfolio, all widebody fleet of over 260 aircraft and near-unrivalled global network, Emirates SkyCargo is perfectly positioned to facilitate the movement of Thailand’s highly delicate tech products, as well as other commodities including garments and stone fruits.

Badr Abbas, Emirates SkyCargo’s Divisional Senior Vice President said, “Our operations across East and Southeast Asia are among the most expansive on our global network – from flight frequencies, freighter deployment, available capacity and gateways served. However, the demand is exponential and therefore the region will be the foundation of our expansion plans through 2026 and beyond.

“Markets such as Thailand and Vietnam are the new heartbeat of global trade, with established and modern manufacturing capabilities, evolving digital economies and world-class logistics infrastructure. We do not see demand slowing and stand ready to support the region’s growth with the quick, reliable and efficient movement of goods worldwide.”

Driven by the consistently high demand, Emirates SkyCargo also boosted freighter frequency in and out of Hanoi to four-weekly services. Three of these freighters connect directly to Dubai World Central (DWC), while the fourth connects Dubai Taipei and Hanoi, enabling the airline to better support Vietnamese-based customers with direct connectivity to and through Dubai.

The airline also deployed a sixth weekly freighter to Guangzhou, catering to the high demand out of mainland China consisting predominately of consumer tech products, electrical goods and eCommerce. To ensure stable capacity during peak periods and seasonal demand, Emirates SkyCargo frequently deploys adhoc freighter capacity across the region.

Over the last thirty years of operations, Emirates SkyCargo has steadily and strategically built its operations across East and Southeast Asia, now serving 25 gateways with 45 freighter services, 13 charter services and 315 passenger services every week, offering an available 21,000 tonnes of capacity.

Dubai, UAE, 13 August 2025 – With the launch of passenger services to Hangzhou, China, Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo arm of the world’s largest international airline, now offers over 21,000 tonnes of weekly tonnage in and out of East and Southeast Asia every week, across the largest and most diversified route network of any non-Asian airline. Deepening its footprint in the region, Emirates SkyCargo now serves 25 gateways across 12 countries and territories. 

Firmly entrenched as the ‘factory of the world’, East and Southeast Asia has established thriving economic corridors, and require significant air freight capacity to shift goods worldwide. Dedicated Emirates SkyCargo freighters serve 9 gateways in the region, with 44 weekly flights, the highest freighter flight density on the airline’s vast global network; this schedule is complemented by 13 charter services to and from East Asia every week, delivering consistent capacity and stable connectivity for Asian businesses into Europe and the Middle East. Freighter and charter operations are underpinned by 311 weekly passenger flights, moving travellers and cargo via a mix of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s. 

With the high-frequency flight schedule, an Emirates aircraft takes off from East or Southeast Asia approximately every half hour. 

“East and Southeast Asia are not just anchors of our global network – they are shaping the future of global logistics, and global trade,” said Abdulla Alkhallafi, Vice President of Cargo Commercial, Far East and Australasia.  “From cutting-edge manufacturing hubs to high-growth consumer markets, the region drives the pace of trade. Our strategic growth strategy and continued investment in East Asia and Southeast Asia reflects this as we remain laser-focused on building the capacity, routes and partnerships to best serve the exponential demand.” 

Fostering economic growth

As a global hub for innovation, e-commerce and advanced manufacturing, and boasting a thriving agricultural sector, East and Southeast Asia have long been key markets on Emirates SkyCargo’s global network. In an average week, Emirates SkyCargo uplifts over 450 tonnes of fresh fruit, vegetables, seafood and other perishable products, 100 tonnes of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, 75 tonnes of electronics, semi-conductors and smart goods, 180 tonnes of garments and over 1,300 tonnes of eCommerce.   

The ‘Aerial Silk Road’ – a network of air routes, logistics hubs and aviation infrastructure mirroring the overland and maritime Silk Roads of yore – enables swift and efficient connectivity with global markets. With a vast network of over 145 destinations, Emirates SkyCargo is well positioned to facilitate global trade. In fact, Emirates SkyCargo plays a significant support role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, facilitating swift and reliable connectivity to over 50 countries participating in the initiative. 

Strength through partnership

Beyond its own network and capacity, Emirates SkyCargo forged a strategic partnership with Teleport, the exclusive cargo partner of AirAsia, to better support the burgeoning trade between Southeast Asia and the wider world, via Dubai. Unlocking over 100 primary, secondary and tertiary regional airports, Emirates SkyCargo is able to better serve global customers with increased capacity, more flexibility and access into new markets in Asia; conversely, Emirates SkyCargo supports Southeast Asian businesses with better connectivity into Europe, the USA and Canada.

A series of ‘firsts’

Emirates has been setting benchmarks since the beginning of operations in East Asia. In September 2002, Emirates SkyCargo launched freighter services between Dubai and Shanghai, establishing the first direct air connectivity between the Middle East and the Chinese mainland, and pre-dating passenger operations by 18 months. 

The streak continued in 2025, as Emirates SkyCargo launched a weekly freighter to Japan’s Narita International Airport, marking the first direct and scheduled freighter connectivity between Narita and the Middle East. Enabling faster and more flexible shipments, the freighter from Narita uplifts pharmaceuticals, semi-conductor parts and large or oddly-shaped shipments such as machinery parts.

As Emirates SkyCargo advances its ambitious 10-year growth strategy, East Asia and Southeast Asia remain priority markets for increased capacity, whether through additional flight schedules or brand-new routes. By deepening connectivity across the region and maintaining seamless links with key markets worldwide, Emirates SkyCargo will continue to play a pivotal role in strengthening global supply chains, supporting bilateral economic growth and shape the future of global logistics.

Dubai, UAE, May 16, 2025 – Emirates has unveiled its highly-anticipated bespoke A380 livery, dedicated to its new door-to-door delivery solution, Emirates Courier Express. The iconic passenger aircraft will take to the skies, reinforcing Emirates’ commitment to redefining the express delivery experience by merging its four-decade experience of moving people and goods worldwide. 

Managed in-house at Emirates Engineering, the Emirates Courier Express livery required the A380 to undergo a full repaint, as part of an expansive project encompassing design, production installation and painting of the livery to bring the customised aircraft to life. 

Inspired by brown paper packages, the aircraft’s nose and fuselage are wrapped in kraft paper, torn to reveal the UAE flag on the tailfin and the Emirates Courier Express logo emblazoned on each side. The logo also adorns each of the four engines, while the belly features the classic red Emirates branding. A large ‘special delivery’ stamp, coupled with instantly recognisable handling stamps decorate the body, bringing the design to life. 

The striking nose-to-tail livery highlights exactly what makes this door-to-door express delivery solution so innovative: the seamless integration between Emirates’ fleet of over 250 widebody aircraft and high-frequency global network, with Emirates SkyCargo’s world-class infrastructure and deep understanding of logistics. It also marks the first cargo inspired livery on an Emirates’ passenger aircraft. 

The Emirates Courier Express A380 took off to O.R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg this week, carrying both passengers and parcels directly to their destination.

-          The move is a part of Emirates SkyCargo’s broader strategy to reduce the environmental impact of its ground operations.

Dubai, UAE, 17 April 2025 – As part of its continued commitment to implementing fuel saving initiatives across ground operations, Emirates SkyCargo, in collaboration with Allied Transport Company, will add hydrogen-powered trucks into its trucking fleet. Currently in production, the trucks will be onboarded to the fleet by Q1 2026.

Emirates SkyCargo’s truck fleet comprises over 60 trucks and serves as a conveyer between Dubai World Central (DWC) and Dubai International Airport (DXB), as well as the wider domestic region. The airline will deploy five hydrogen-powered trucks, marking a key milestone in the company’s gradual transition to alternate fuel vehicles. The addition of these trucks is expected to reduce Emirates SkyCargo’s CO2 and other emissions from trucking.

The hydrogen trucks, like the current diesel-powered vehicles, can carry up to 28 tonnes of cargo, ensuring no compromise on capacity. They will be refuelled at two dedicated hydrogen fuelling stations in Dubai - Expo City and the Al Qudra Dewa station, and a full tank can provide a range of up to 700 kms, to ensure seamless transport for Emirates SkyCargo’s customers.

Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo, said: “The deployment of hydrogen-powered trucks into our fleet marks an exciting development in our strategy to reduce emissions in our ground operations. We will continue to explore more ways to integrate alternative fuels and technologies and scale up efforts that mitigate our environmental footprint without compromising on the high standards of service our customers expect.”

Mr. Ali Bin Beyat, CEO of Allied Transport Company, expressed strong confidence in the potential of hydrogen-powered transport, stating: "Through our extensive research, we are confident that achieving significantly reduced emissions is possible with hydrogen trucks, without relying on conventional power sources. In partnership with Emirates SkyCargo, we are introducing Hydrogen-powered trucks across UAE-especially in Dubai-to support a cleaner and sustainable logistics future. This initiative aligns with Emirates SkyCargo’s sustainability goals and supports the UAE’s vision for a greener future."

The hydrogen trucks are tractor units, compatible with a variety of trailers to accommodate different types of cargo, ensuring that Emirates SkyCargo can meet its diverse customer needs while expanding initiatives to minimise its environmental footprint.

Reducing emissions is one of the key pillars of the Emirates’ Environmental Sustainability Framework, with multiple initiatives dedicated to efficient operations. In 2023, Emirates achieved IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) Stage One and the IEnvA Illegal Wildlife Trade module certifications, a testament to the airline’s longstanding commitment to impactful environmental sustainability initiatives.

Dubai, UAE, 16 April, 2025 – Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo arm of the world’s largest international airline, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Teleport, AirAsia’s exclusive cargo partner. The partnership aims to better support the burgeoning trade between Southeast Asia and the wider world, via Dubai.

The agreement was signed at IATA’s World Cargo Symposium by Badr Abbas, Emirates SkyCargo’s Divisional Senior Vice President and Pete Chareonwongsak, CEO of Teleport. Under the terms of the MoU, Emirates SkyCargo and Teleport will work closely on a number of initiatives, which include expanding cargo interline options and block space agreements, to enhance connectivity and boost the reach of ASEAN businesses.

Teleport exclusively consolidates the bellyhold capacity of all AirAsia airlines into a single and largest air logistics network in Southeast Asia, encompassing Malaysia-based AirAsia Berhad, AirAsia X Berhad, Indonesia AirAsia, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X and AirAsia Cambodia, together with a fleet of three dedicated freighter aircraft and 40+ other airlines. Combined, this expands Emirates SkyCargo’s reach into over 100 destinations beyond primary, but also into both secondary and tertiary airports in the Southeast Asian region. Conversely, Teleport will benefit from Emirates’ vast global network of over 145 destinations with a particular focus on key destinations in Europe, Africa and the US.

Commenting on the partnership, Badr Abbas said, “For almost 35 years, we have proudly served Southeast Asia, keeping goods flowing quickly, reliably and efficiently. This strategic partnership with Teleport and the AirAsia Group of airlines is an evolution of that commitment, enabling us to better serve our customers with increased capacity, more flexibility and access into new markets in Asia, combined with enhanced connectivity across our vast global network.”

Pete Chareonwongsak added, “2025 is a year of global scale for Teleport as we strengthen our Teleport Network reach and capacity to better meet the growing global demands of e-commerce. Our partnership with Emirates, which is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia for them, is a source of great pride as we collaborate with a leading global partner. This will enable the expansion of both our respective air networks, supporting Southeast Asia’s growing exports and facilitating the movement of e-commerce from China, through our connectivity beyond Southeast Asia, to the Middle East, Africa and Europe. E-commerce is expected to double its share of Southeast Asia’s air cargo volumes from 11% to 20% by 2029, driven by lightweight, high-frequency shipments replacing bulk freight and the rise in demand for express delivery. With a shared commitment to provide faster, more efficient, and reliable cross-border air cargo services, this partnership enhances our combined capabilities to capture global market opportunities.” 

Southeast Asia and the wider Asian continent are the backbone of global manufacturing, particularly for electronics, smart gadgets, fashion and textiles, machines, automobiles and pharmaceuticals. The partnership is set to support the world’s shifting supply chains, as Southeast Asia continues building its manufacturing and logistics capabilities. Southeast Asia outbound air cargo in 2024 amounted to ~2.5 million tons with greater flows expected to the Middle East and Europe, supported by manufacturing expansion, e-commerce, and improved infrastructure. 

In recent years, the UAE and Southeast Asian countries have solidified their economic and bilateral relationship, with Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA) signed between the UAE and Malaysia, Indonesia and Cambodia, with Vietnam and Thailand expected to follow. The agreement between Emirates SkyCargo and Teleport supports these prosperous relationships and lays a foundation for further growth, by improving trade flows and generating new opportunities that help strengthen global economies. 

Emirates SkyCargo first began operations to Southeast Asia with direct flights to Singapore, Bangkok and Manila in June 1990. Now, the airline operates 5 freighters and 176 passenger flights per week to 11 destinations across the region. Further expansion is on the horizon with the upcoming launch of passenger services to Siem Reap, Cambodia and Da Nang, Vietnam in June 2025, with both cities connecting via Bangkok. 

Established in 2018, Teleport is an integrated logistics solutions provider operating the largest air logistics network in Southeast Asia, covering 80% of the region. The Teleport Network moves everything from large palletised cargo to small eCommerce parcels in an affordable, fast and reliable way, reaching over 164 destinations across Asia Pacific via combined freighter and high-frequency passenger aircraft belly capacity of AirAsia and 40+ other partner airlines. As a logistics venture of Capital A with presence across Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, India, Singapore and China, Teleport ensures that everything arrives the next-day for anyone across Southeast Asia.

Dubai, UAE, 15 April 2025 – Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo division of the world’s largest international airline, has deployed a dedicated weekly freighter to Narita International Airport (NRT), increasing its network of destinations served by Emirates freighters to 38.  The deployment also marks the first direct and scheduled freighter connectivity between Narita and the Middle East, enabling faster and more flexible shipments.

Japan has a well-established and diverse manufacturing industry and has long been a priority market for Emirates SkyCargo, with a twice weekly freighter to Kansai International Airport (KIX). The soon-to-be-deployed freighter to Narita International Airport will boost available cargo capacity by 100 tonnes each way. Expected commodities include automobile and machinery parts, semi-conductor parts and sophisticated pharmaceuticals, transported swiftly, efficiently and reliably via the airline’s multi-vertical product portfolio.

Narita International Airport is the largest air- or seaport in Japan, in terms of value of cargo handled, and, with further investment allocated to the ‘New Narita Airport’ Development Plan, the airport is set to become the region’s foremost cargo hub by the end of the decade.

Badr Abbas, Emirates SkyCargo’s Divisional Senior Vice President said, “Expanding our dedicated freighter network is a key priority on our 10-year strategic roadmap and now, as we start to receive our all-new Boeing 777 freighters, we are able to reach new markets with enhanced capacity.

“Demand for our world-class product and services has been steadily growing in Narita, particularly for pharmaceuticals and consumer electronics, transported in the bellyhold of our daily passenger flight, while large or oddly-shaped shipments such as machinery parts were diverted to KIX. The deployment of this freighter empowers us to better support our global customers with direct connectivity to and through Dubai, while growing our operations in Japan.”

Emirates SkyCargo serves four destinations across East and Southeast Asia with 57 dedicated freighter flights per week, complemented by over 290 passenger flights every week. This near-unrivalled frequency and capacity marks East Asia as one of the airline’s busiest destinations, with further expansion on the horizon in the coming months with additional passenger routes opening between Dubai and Siem Reap, Cambodia; Da Nang, Vietnam, and Shenzhen, China.

Effective from 24^th May 2025, EK9413 will arrive in Narita International Airport on Saturdays at 01:00AM UTC, departing for Dubai World Central at 03:00AM UTC. Customers can contact their local Emirates SkyCargo office or visit skycargo.com for more information.

Dubai, UAE, 26 February 2025 – Emirates SkyCargo freighter A6-EFV was delivered in July 2024 without livery and was deployed immediately to serve the booming global demand. This week, it has rolled out of Emirates Engineering as the first freighter to don the airline’s distinctive new livery colours.

Over the course of eight days, a team of specialists from Emirates Engineering’s in-house paint shop applied the refreshed livery. The biggest change is to the UAE flag on the tailfin, which has been a staple of the Emirates branding since the very beginning. Now, the design is more dynamic and flowing, with 3D effect artwork; likewise, the iconic gold lettering across the main body in English and Arabic is bigger and bolder. The Arabic calligraphy on the engines remains, as does the iconic red branding on the aircraft belly, ensuring key elements of the airline’s identity remain consistent.

Nadeem Sultan, Senior Vice President of Cargo Planning and Freighters, Emirates SkyCargo said: “Emirates SkyCargo freighters are some of the most instantly recognizable aircraft in the skies, flying valuable commodities to and from 38 destinations worldwide. The investment in new livery represents our ongoing commitment to modernise our fleet, as we continue to build our capacity and unlock new opportunities to serve our global customers.”

The new livery, which was first unveiled in March 2023, is the third iteration of Emirates’ iconic aircraft brand colours since launch in 1985. All 10 Boeing 777 freighters in Emirates’ fleet will be gradually scheduled for their paint jobs and new freighters, of which Emirates SkyCargo has 13 on order, will come fully decked out on delivery.

The Emirates SkyCargo team, led by Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo, accepted the award in Nairobi, on the sidelines of Air Cargo Africa 2025. The ceremony was also attended by other notable guests and leading members in the air freight and logistics industry.

Commenting on the recognition, Badr Abbas, Emirates SkyCargo’s Divisional Senior Vice President said: “Emirates SkyCargo is the benchmark for excellence in the global logistics industry, serving as a trusted partner that seamlessly connects the world. We are proud that our commitment to our customers, our focus on innovation and strengthening our operations with the best talent in the industry, has secured us the accolade of the world’s leading cargo airline, by one of the leading industry publications. We will continue work with key partners and customers to redefine the future of air cargo and contribute to the prosperity of the global economy, today and in the future.”

Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo arm of the world’s largest international airline, prides itself on solving the transportation challenges of its customers. For almost 40 years, the cargo arm has facilitated global trade to over 145 destinations across six continents, connecting businesses with their suppliers and customers worldwide via a mix of passenger aircraft and dedicated freighters. With an industry-leading portfolio of fit-for-purpose products, underpinned by state-of-the-art infrastructure, Emirates SkyCargo moves goods quickly, reliably and efficiently.

This week during Air Cargo Africa 2025, Emirates SkyCargo was central to the discussions around Africa’s growing prominence as a competitive player in global trade. In addition to a full schedule of meetings, networking events and media briefings, the airline’s leadership joined panel discussions alongside other industry leaders to explore the challenges and opportunities in Africa’s logistics network. Badr Abbas also provided an in-depth look at his vision for the future of the airline and an analysis of the 2025 forecast in a fireside chat, underscoring the airline’s confidence in air freight’s essential role in global trade.  

Nairobi, Kenya, 20 February, 2025 – Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo arm of the world’s largest international airline, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Astral Aviation, one of the leading cargo airlines in Africa, to explore ways to boost global trade to and from the continent.  

Astral Aviation operates an extensive intra-Africa network of 50 destinations served via scheduled and adhoc charters. Matched with Emirates SkyCargo’s vast global network of over 145 destinations and fleet of passenger aircraft and dedicated freighters, the partnership underscores the growing prominence of Africa as a competitive player in world trade. Both airlines bring particular experience in handling sensitive cargo, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and lifesaving pharmaceuticals, which are key commodities transported to and from the market.

The agreement was signed at Air Cargo Africa by Badr Abbas, Emirates SkyCargo’s Divisional Senior Vice President and Mr. Sanjeev Gadhia, CEO of Astral Aviation Limited. Under the terms of the MoU, Emirates SkyCargo and Astral Aviation will work closely on a number of initiatives, which include expanding cargo interline options and block space agreements, to enhance connectivity and boost the reach of African businesses.

Commenting on the partnership, Badr Abbas said, “Home to 11 of the 20 fastest-growing economies, coupled with bold trade ambitions, there is immense growth potential in Africa. Given the breadth of our network, our all widebody fleet and specialist product portfolio, we are well placed to support businesses reach new suppliers and customers in every corner of the globe. This partnership with Astral Aviation solidifies our longstanding commitment to the market, creating mutually beneficial economic opportunities to keep goods flowing quickly, reliably and efficiently.”

Mr. Gadhia said, “Today marks a pivotal step in our, over 15 years, commercial partnership and reflects our shared vision to elevate air cargo solutions to, from and within Africa. Together, we will unlock new opportunities, driving innovation and strengthening global trade connectivity.”

The economic and investment cooperation between the UAE and Africa continues to grow, with the UAE currently being the number one GCC and the fourth largest global investor in Africa. Most recently, the UAE and Kenya signed a landmark Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to accelerate trade and investment in agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare, travel and tourism, financial services and renewable energy. The agreement between Emirates SkyCargo and Astral Aviation supports the prosperous relationship and lays a foundation for further growth, by improving trade flows and generating new opportunities that help strengthen global economies. This also helps to achieve the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to increase Africa’s exports to the rest of the world by 32% by 2035.

Emirates SkyCargo first began operations to Africa in April 1986, with the inaugural flight to Cairo, Egypt. Over the next four decades, the airline has steadily scaled operations and increased frequencies, now offering customers seven scheduled freighters and bellyhold capacity on 172 passenger flights per week to 20 destinations in Africa.

With global hubs in Nairobi, Johannesburg, Liege and Dubai, Astral Aviation has been flying the blue skies of Africa for 24 years, providing reliable and cost-effective airfreight solutions.

Nairobi, Kenya, 19 February, 2025 – As the logistics industry comes together in Nairobi at Air Cargo Africa, Emirates SkyCargo reaffirms its near-four decade commitment to the continent. With an average of 3,820 tonnes carried in and out of Africa every week, the airline strengthens trade lanes and connects African manufacturers, traders and exporters with businesses all over the world.

“Africa has been a priority market for Emirates SkyCargo since our first flight to the continent in 1986. Since then, we’ve gone from strength to strength,” said Khalid Al Hinai, Vice President Cargo Commercial, Emirates SkyCargo – Africa, UAE and Middle East. “It is an exciting time to serve Africa, with the potential gamechanging policies such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which is set to shape the region’s economic development and boost trade potential both regionally and internationally. As a facilitator of trade, we are committed to connecting underserved markets to global supply chains, creating reciprocal economic and business opportunities that strengthen global economies.” 

Emirates SkyCargo first began operations to Africa in April 1986 – less than one year after establishing operations – with direct flights between Dubai and Cairo, Egypt. Over the 39 years, the airline steadily scaled operations, increasing capacity, gateways, and frequencies to better serve local and global customers. Now, in 2025, Emirates SkyCargo operates eight scheduled freighters and 172 passenger planes into 20 destinations across the region every week. With over 145 destinations on its vast global network, Emirates SkyCargo facilitates the quick and efficient transportation of goods, supporting African businesses import and export their goods across the world. 

Emirates SkyCargo plays an essential role in global trade, keeping goods moving to and from key African markets. In 2024, Emirates SkyCargo exported over 91,930 tonnes of perishable goods from African destinations, making it the largest commodity uplift from the region. Transported via ventilated and temperature-controlled packaging, the freight division moves strawberries from Egypt, seafood from South Africa, chilled meat from Tanzania, fresh and cut fruits from Ghana and bananas from Uganda, to name just a few. 

Horticulture is also an essential industry in Africa. Kenya, in particular, is one of the top four flower-producing countries in the world, with an ideal environment to grow consumer favourites such as roses, carnations, and chrysanthemums. Emirates SkyCargo operates a twice weekly freighter into Nairobi and on to Maastricht in the Netherlands, transporting fresh cut flowers in a temperature-regulated cool chain from farm to florist in as little as 24 hours. 

Outside of agriculture, African countries are investing in industrial manufacturing to diversify and strengthen their economies. The industry is poised for significant growth over the next decade and forms a core part of AfCFTA. With a diversified and specialized product portfolio, Emirates SkyCargo stands ready to support business in Africa with tailor-made solutions that are fast, reliable, flexible and efficient.

Throughout Air Cargo Africa, Emirates SkyCargo stands ready to engage in essential discussions and knowledge-share with other industry leaders to help propel the logistics ecosystem and support the region’s evolving supply chains. Emirates SkyCargo will be at Air Cargo Africa from February 19 - 21, at stand number B01.

Previously served via bellyhold capacity in passenger aircraft, the Boeing 777 freighter will increase capacity offered to Emirates’ customers, with approximately 85 tonnes allocated for cargo from Copenhagen, and neighbouring countries including Norway and Sweden.

Emirates SkyCargo has recorded significant growth in volume of over 20% from Denmark in the last financial year, driven largely by pharmaceutical shipments. With a thriving life sciences production industry and resilient cold chain infrastructure, Copenhagen serves as Europe’s northern hub for pharma logistics. The increased capacity coupled with Emirates SkyCargo’s fit-for-purpose pharmaceutical product portfolio and extensive global network will support more pharma exports from Denmark.

In addition to uplifting pharmaceutical cargo, Emirates SkyCargo will provide tailored solutions to transport goods via its multi-vertical product portfolio. From general cargo to temperature-sensitive perishables such as fish and other foods, the airline keeps goods moving from Copenhagen to the world, swiftly, efficiently and reliably.

Mette Jensen, Cargo Manager for Scandinavia, Emirates SkyCargo said, “Demand has been strong across Scandinavia, with particular growth in Copenhagen, and we expect this to continue into the next financial year and beyond. Bolstering our operations to Copenhagen with a dedicated freighter, ensures that we are able to serve the current demand, and support our customers in reaching a large number of markets across the globe.”

Emirates SkyCargo serves 11 destinations across Europe with 38 dedicated freighter flights per week, complemented by over 485 passenger flights every week. This near-unrivalled frequency and capacity marks Europe as one of the airline’s busiest destinations.

Effective from 1 January 2025, EK9746 will arrive in Copenhagen Airport on Wednesdays at 12:35AM*, departing for Dubai World Central at 15:05PM*. Customers can contact their local Emirates SkyCargo office or visit skycargo.com for more information.

*All timings are local time.

Dubai, UAE, December 10, 2024 – Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo arm of the world’s largest international airline, has advanced its digital landscape for cargo operations, with the introduction of eQuote. Empowering customers with real-time data and information for a seamless booking experience, the launch marks a significant milestone on the airline’s long-standing digitisation strategy, which aims to enhance customer experience, streamline operations and drive greater efficiencies.

Available on e-SkyCargo, eQuote acts as a digital ‘self-service’ touchpoint, enabling customers to request and manage their spot quotations, 24/7. The solution will be progressively rolled out globally and will incorporate the majority of products, including highly sensitive shipments such as the Life Sciences and Healthcare portfolio and high-value transfers such as Emirates Wheels. eQuote provides a higher level of choice, control and flexibility for customers to access the airline’s world-class products and services.

Matthew Scott, Vice President of Pricing and Interline, Emirates SkyCargo said, “Accelerating digital transformation is a key pillar of our strategic roadmap, which will ensure we remain one of the leading partners for the world’s rapidly evolving supply chains. Integrating intuitive and reliable digital tools into our customer journey is essential, as more customers become accustomed to a swift and seamless experience, empowered with real-time data to streamline their daily operations. The launch of eQuote is a natural enhancement to our digital offering, further enriching the exceptional customer service that Emirates SkyCargo is renowned for.”

Embracing digital solutions

The cargo division’s digitalisation strategy prioritizes innovation that drives demonstrable results, not just for customers but for internal teams too. Emirates SkyCargo has been steadily and successfully integrating digital solutions into its operations, unlocking incremental value and optimizing processes for a more seamless customer journey. Across its vast global network, Emirates SkyCargo has seen a significant uptick in digital adoption – now accounting for more than 60% of all bookings. General cargo remains the number one commodity booked digitally, closely followed by perishable and pharmaceutical shipments, indicating the maturity of the digital landscape given the complex requirements for temperature-sensitive freight.

Enhancing customer experience

In response to this growing demand, Emirates SkyCargo established its presence on three of the biggest digital marketplaces, along with the leading Transport Management Systems, most frequently used by freight forwarders worldwide: WebCargo, cargo.one, CargoAi and CargoWise. For customers, this means Emirates SkyCargo offers are present wherever the customer wishes to book, offering an array of benefits including direct access to make bookings, visibility on schedules, tariff and contract rates, along with real-time access to available capacity, enabling immediate bookings 24/7.

At launch, Emirates SkyCargo made five core products available on digital marketplaces, allowing for the transport of perishables, general cargo and urgent shipments; this has now been expanded to more specialty products, including pharmaceuticals. The airline also increased the weight break limitation to three tonnes, allowing more shipments to be booked digitally.

Building on the early results of air freight aggregators, Emirates SkyCargo worked with key global customers, Kuehne+Nagel and DB Schenker to initiate direct host-to-host connections, building the airline’s available capacity, schedules and rates into these customers’ internal booking engines.

Emirates SkyCargo has witnessed greater productivity and an increase in manpower efficiency across the board. By reducing the manual work for simple or small shipments, the airline’s team of experts can prioritize more complex bookings that require closer follow up, such as shipments booked through Emirates Valuables or Emirates Pets. Sales agents have more availability to meet with customers and provide a better, more personalised service - further elevating Emirates SkyCargo’s market-leading capabilities and contributing to the strong customer feedback.

Elevating digital touchpoints

Finally, Emirates SkyCargo has completed a full refresh of its owned digital channels, including e-SkyCargo and SkyCargo.com, enriching the existing websites to be more efficient, useful and impactful to customers and stakeholders. e-SkyCargo, the airline’s registered user portal, has been simplified to enhance the user experience with evolved functionality that prioritizes usability.

SkyCargo.com, the airline’s main website, has undergone a full rebrand, with a more intuitive design, improved mobile-friendliness, and enhanced accessibility features to improve navigation. Each specialist product under Emirates SkyCargo’s multi-vertical portfolio is outlined on the website, providing comprehensive information and up-to-date details on packaging requirements, necessary documentation and compliance considerations, to ensure customers can make the right decisions for their business.

A look ahead

Digitisation will remain a key priority for Emirates SkyCargo and the wider air freight industry with innovative solutions that not only integrate into operations but shape them too. By harnessing the collected booking data, Emirates SkyCargo will evaluate micro and macro trends against live data, to better adjust schedules, frequencies, product capabilities, routes and more, to ensure customers worldwide get the goods they need, when they need them.

Dubai, UAE, November 18, 2024 – Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has joined the Move to -15^oC global coalition, securing its place as the first airline to bring its expertise to the initiative. As a world-leader in the transport of perishable goods, Emirates will lend its wealth of knowledge and experience in handling and shipping to the practical application of this potentially industry-changing initiative.

First launched at COP28 hosted in the UAE, the Move to -15^oC coalition aims to redefine frozen food temperature standards and reduce energy consumption in the frozen food supply chain. The working hypothesis suggests that a three-degree change in temperature could make a significant environmental impact with no compromise on food quality and safety. By bringing together cross-industry partners, the coalition will explore the real-world implementation of this research through data sharing, suggested operational revisions, collaborating with members and stakeholders, as well as engaging with policymakers and regulators to educate and advocate.  

Perishables represent Emirates SkyCargo’s largest business unit by tonnage, with 900 to 1,000 tonnes of fresh food travelling around the world on Emirates’ flights every day. While frozen foods may represent a small percentage, the airline has built outstanding cool chain infrastructure, employed proprietary innovations and established strong working relationships across the supply chain that would provide key insight when reimagining the frozen food supply chain.

Dennis Lister, Senior Vice President of Product and Innovation, Emirates SkyCargo said, “We have long been leaders in the movement of perishable food, connecting the global agricultural community with their customers across the globe and delivering freshness you can taste. The Move to -15^oC coalition is a future-looking concept, bringing together likeminded partners to evolve the industry in line with current advancements in technology, equipment, facilities, packaging and more. We are excited to offer our insight and expertise to help shape the next phase of food logistics while driving meaningful impact.”

Thomas Eskesen, Chairman of the Move to -15°C Coalition, says, "We are excited to welcome Emirates to our Coalition. The airline industry plays a vital role in the global cold chain, and having a leading airline like Emirates on board represents a key step forward to us.

''Ambitious climate action across the complex frozen food supply chain – which includes food production, ports, shipping, road, rail and air freight, cold storage and retail – can only happen through cross-sector collaboration. By joining the Coalition, Emirates is demonstrating that change is possible through industries joining forces.”

The Move to -15°C coalition was established in 2023, following the launch of the Three Degrees of Change report, an academic paper supported by global logistics firm, DP World, and delivered by experts from the Paris-based International Institute of Refrigeration, the University of Birmingham, and London South Bank University, among others. 

Emirates is focused on sustainable and environmental initiatives that drive impact, both in its own operations and across the industry. Recognizing that no one entity can achieve far-reaching results alone, a key part of the airline’s strategy is to find solutions to the biggest challenges in partnership with wider industry. In addition to the Move to -15^oC coalition, Emirates is also an industrial partner of Aviation Impact Accelerator (AIA), marking the first disbursement from the airline’s USD$ 200 million Sustainability Fund, dedicated to research and development projects focussed on reducing the impact of fossil fuels in commercial aviation. Emirates also joined The Solent Cluster in the UK, a cross-sector collaboration aimed at reducing CO₂ emissions and producing low-carbon fuels.

Dubai, UAE, 16 July 2024 – Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo arm of the world’s largest international airline, has announced a firm order for an additional five Boeing 777 freighters, with immediate delivery between 2025 and 2026. The US$ 1billion order will take the airline’s total order book to 315 wide-body aircraft.

Emirates SkyCargo performance throughout Q1 of its current 2024-25 financial year has been exceptional, with consistently high load factors and tonnages surpassing 2019 figures. Once the new aircraft enter in service, available main deck cargo capacity will increase by 30%, allowing the airline to deploy much-needed space into key markets, and better serve global customers.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates airline and Group said: “Demand for our world-class product and services is growing exponentially, further amplified by Dubai’s Economic Agenda which aims to double foreign trade and reinforce the city’s position as a global trading hub. This investment in additional Boeing 777 capacity enables us to cater to customer demand and marks a step forward on our long-term strategic growth plan.

The next phase of our strategy will include a full assessment for our future freighter fleet reviewing all aircraft options to ensure we are best equipped to respond to the evolving demands of the market and reaffirming our confidence in the role of airfreight and, more specifically, Emirates SkyCargo, in global trade.”

"We are honored that Emirates SkyCargo, renowned for operational excellence and innovation, has once again selected the Boeing 777 Freighter to extend the reach of its global network,” said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We deeply value Emirates’ trust in the Boeing widebody family and are committed to supporting their long-term strategic growth plan.”

With the staggered delivery of its new aircraft, Emirates SkyCargo will retire older freighters, reinforcing the airline’s commitment to operating one of the youngest and most efficient fleets in the sky.

In addition to the 10 Boeing 777Fs on order, the airline’s cargo capabilities will be bolstered by the 10 777-300ERs currently being converted into freighters, taking Emirates’ freighter fleet to 17 aircraft by the end of 2025. Harnessing the Emirates passenger fleet, the cargo division will continue to facilitate the fast, reliable and efficient movement of goods worldwide, offering customers more flexibility with a fleet mix comprised of 777s, 777Fs, 747Fs, A350s, and A380s.

Dubai, UAE, 28 May 2024 – Emirates SkyCargo is celebrating a decade of dual airport operations, made possible by the airline’s robust trucking fleet and bonded corridor. With 77 kilometres between Dubai World Central (DWC) and Dubai International Airport (DXB), Emirates SkyCargo established the bonded trucking corridor, to seamlessly integrate the airports and offer customers a five-hour air-to-air transfer service. 

Comprised of over 60 trucks and operating 24/7, the fleet serves as a rolling conveyor between the dedicated freighter operations at DWC and bellyhold operations at DXB. Since May 2014, Emirates SkyCargo trucks have transferred more than 2.16 million tonnes of cargo between the airports in 640,000+ trips, facilitating trade to over 150 destinations on the airline’s vast global network. 

Robert Fordree, Senior Vice President of Cargo Operations Worldwide, Emirates SkyCargo, said: “Establishing a reliable and effective trucking service has been essential to the success of our dual airport hub, enabling us to move our customers’ shipments without compromise. Over the last decade, we have reinforced the service, offering one of the most competitive air-to-air transfer times of 5 hours, coupled with fit-for-purpose solutions to keep goods flowing quickly and reliably around the world. We will continue to develop our multi-modal offering and integrate Dubai’s world-class infrastructure into our operations, strengthening the city’s position as a leading logistics hub.” 

Offering customers more choice and flexibility with their international shipping, Emirates SkyCargo’s truck fleet includes flat-beds, temperature-controlled refrigerated units, dry box roller beds and reefers to provide fit-for-purpose attention for goods in transit. Maintained and operated by Allied Transport Company, the fleet has travelled over 62 million miles in the last decade, which is the equivalent distance of 81 trips to the moon and back. 

In addition to shuttling cargo between the two airports, Emirates SkyCargo introduced a road feeder service, extending connectivity for regional airports via land. Since 2020, the airline has seen significant transit traffic from GCC markets such as in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain for oversized and heavy cargo, including machinery, engines, automotive and oil field equipment, among others. 

Located in the center of the world with advantageous connectivity for air, land and sea, Dubai is a major trade gateway, serving as a bridge between East and West. Building on this, Emirates SkyCargo’s hub is the world’s largest and most technologically advanced cargo handling facility in the world, offering 185,000m² dedicated cargo area and a capacity of 2.3 million tonnes per annum across both operations. Guided by Dubai’s Economic Agenda, D33 which defines the city's vision of becoming a prominent economic hub, Emirates SkyCargo works to improve trade flows and generate new, reciprocal business opportunities that help strengthen global economies.

The host-to-host connection with DB Schenker’s internal booking engine optimizes the air freight booking process, providing agents with direct access to Emirates SkyCargo’s schedules, Standard and Contract Tariff rates and available capacity, as well as the airline’s vast global network of over 140 destinations across six continents.

Launching first in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the connection will then launch globally, facilitating trade with key markets including Hong Kong, China, Singapore, India, Germany and the USA. Initially, the service will enable agents to book general cargo, with the possibility of adding other products from Emirates SkyCargo’s multi-vertical, industry-leading portfolio in the near future.

Dubai, UAE, 13 March, 2024 – Cementing its presence on three of the biggest digital marketplaces for air freight logistics, Emirates SkyCargo is now live on cargo.one. The partnership underscores Emirates SkyCargo’s longstanding commitment to implementing digital solutions that streamline operations, drive efficiencies and unlock value for its global customer base. Bolstering its advanced and customer-centric digital distribution strategy, partnering with cargo.one ensures that Emirates SkyCargo offers are present where its customers wish to book.

Through cargo.one, customers will be able to access Emirates SkyCargo schedules, tariff and contract rates, along with real-time access to available capacity, empowering freight forwarders to make immediate bookings at any time. During the initial launch phase, the partnership will roll out in select countries in Europe before expanding across the Americas, Africa, the Far East and Australasia. cargo.one now contributes to Emirates SkyCargo’s digital status in the market, with its seamless booking experience and reach to 15,000 freight forwarders in every corner of the world.

Jeffrey van Haeften, Senior Vice President Cargo Commercial Worldwide, Emirates SkyCargo, said: “Digitalisation is a key way that we help the world work better, providing flexible and convenient options for freight forwarders to seamlessly access Emirates SkyCargo’s world-class product and services. In turn, by streamlining our quotations and bookings, we enable our teams to focus on providing outstanding customer service, which is the cornerstone of our brand. We will continue to invest in digital solutions and partnerships such as cargo.one to enhance the experience for our customers and expedite the movement of goods all over the world.”

Emirates SkyCargo’s four core products are listed on cargo.one, including Emirates Fresh and Emirates Fresh Breathe, an integrated and responsive cool chain purpose-built for perishables; Emirates Airfreight Priority for urgent shipments that require speed and reliability; and Emirates Airfreight for the quick and careful transport of general cargo.

Dubai, UAE, March 1, 2024 – Emirates SkyCargo, one of the largest international cargo airlines, has hosted discussions on the hot topics in logistics and world trade and the challenges faced by the global supply chains, on the sidelines of the 13^th World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference (WTO MC13), hosted by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) in the UAE capital. The event has brought together senior leaders across industries to provide a macro-view of the challenges, opportunities, and untapped potential of global logistics. 

Under the title, Security, Sustainability and Digitalisation: A New Era for Trade and Cargo, the event was programmed by Economist Impact. It delved into the patterns of modern trade that see trillions of dollars’ worth of goods move across the world every day. With global supply chains poised for change, the event has also explored the impact of geopolitical disruption, the growing demand for sustainable solutions, the intersection for technology and security, and the critical requirements for robust, resilient supply chains, underpinned by air freight. 

Commenting on the central themes of the event, His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade and MC13 Chair, said it has become paramount to embrace new technologies to improve supply-chain efficiency and sustainability. “By leveraging the new generation of trade tech tools, we have the opportunity to not only strengthen global supply chains but make them more efficient and, as a result, more able to contribute to our efforts to combat climate change. As we outline in our new Trade-Sustain-AI initiative, technologies such as artificial intelligence can enhance freight movements, predict adverse or extreme weather events, and support inventory management, all of which support our efforts to develop a smarter, more transparent trading system. Today’s important discussion underlined the potential impact of advanced technologies on global trade – and the urgency with which we need to now integrate them.”

Setting the foundation on the nexus points between trade, investment, and geopolitics, Simon Evenett, a world renowned expert on trade and Professor at Switzerland’s University of St Gallen was the keynote speaker, followed by a fireside conversation moderated by Elizabeth Mackey, Senior Manager, New Globalisation, Economist Impact. 

Following this, a panel of industry leaders from some of the world’s biggest and most reputable organisations discussed the outlook of global trade. Panellists included Marion Jansen, Director of the Trade and Agriculture Directorate, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); Pierre Sauve, Senior Trade Specialist from the World Bank; Lisa Schroeter, Global Director of Trade and Investment Policy, Dow Chemical; and Nabil Sultan, Emirates SkyCargo’s Divisional Senior Vice President for the past decade. 

Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo arm of Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has been a leading facilitator of global trade for almost four decades, giving the airline a comprehensive perspective on the cyclical peaks and troughs of trade patterns. Guided by Dubai’s Economic Agenda, D33 which defines the city's vision of becoming a prominent economic hub, the airline works to improve trade flows and generate new, reciprocal business opportunities that help strengthen global economies, by adding new and unique destinations to its vast network of over 140 destinations. 

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is the only international organisation dealing with the global rules of trade, and aims to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible. The Ministerial Conference (MC), which convenes every two years, is the uppermost decision-making body of the WTO. It brings together high- level decision-makers from around the world to review and rule on the multilateral trade system. MC13, hosted by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), is being held at ADNEC Abu Dhabi from 26 – 29 February. 

The Emirates SkyCargo team, led by Divisional Senior Vice President, Nabil Sultan, accepted the award in Mumbai, on the sidelines of Air Cargo India 2024. The ceremony was also attended by other notable guests and leading members in the air cargo and logistics industry.

Commenting on the win, Sultan said: “We are honoured to be recognized as the leading cargo airline by the premier industry publication and our customers around the world. This accolade reflects our commitment to make the world work better through continual innovation and development in our operations, and also the talent in our Emirates SkyCargo team who are instrumental in our ongoing success. We will keep raising the bar, to ensure Emirates SkyCargo remains a first-class partner for our global customers.” 

Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo arm of the world’s largest international airline, has been a thriving enabler of global trade for almost four decades. Serving over 140 destinations across six continents, the airline connects people and businesses to the goods they need with an industry-leading portfolio of purpose-fit products and state-of-the-art infrastructure at its dual-airport hub in Dubai.

This week, Emirates SkyCargo played a pivotal role in shaping the future of logistics in India and the wider region during the 2024 Air Cargo India conference. In addition to a full schedule of meetings, networking events and media briefings, the airline’s leadership joined panel discussions alongside other industry leaders to explore the challenges and opportunities on India’s journey to uplift 10 million tonnes of annual cargo throughput by 2030. Marking 10 years at the helm of Emirates SkyCargo, Nabil Sultan provided an in-depth look at the evolution of the airline and an analysis of the 2024 forecast in a fireside chat, underscoring the airline’s confidence in air freight’s essential role in global trade.   

Nabil Sultan, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo said: “2023 was a pivotal year for Emirates SkyCargo. Despite ongoing fluctuations in air freight, long-term trends indicate that the industry is growing at a rate of 3 – 5% year-on-year. Emirates SkyCargo, however, continues to outperform the market growth, uplifting over 1,183,000 tonnes from January to mid-December, a solid 7% increase compared to last year. Looking to the future, we are well-positioned to steadily scale up operations in 2024, continuing our strategic growth to ensure we lead the industry in solutions that are fast, reliable, flexible, and efficient.”

Reaching every corner of the globe

In line with the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) Emirates SkyCargo is on a journey to grow Dubai’s position as the world’s largest logistics hub, expanding its fleet and network to better serve global customers. In Q1, Emirates SkyCargo leased two Boeing 747-400Fs, unlocking immediate additional cargo space in response to high customer demand. These aircraft join its fleet of 11 Boeing 777Fs and 251 passenger aircraft.

Further expansion is on the horizon, with four new 777-200Fs expected in 2024 and a fifth aircraft in 2025. This order is in addition to 310 wide-body passenger aircraft that Emirates has on the order book, which will see deliveries of new aircraft, and new cargo capacity, through to 2035.

Building on its competitive global connectivity, Emirates SkyCargo extended its reach in Canada and North America through a strategic interline cooperation with Air Canada Cargo. Customers are now able to book shipments that will travel on Air Canada Cargo flights via e-SkyCargo, expanding Emirates SkyCargo’s reach to over 60 cities in Canada and more than 150 cities globally.

Ever-evolving product portfolio

In May, Emirates SkyCargo reinforced its multi-vertical product portfolio, with the launch of two new bespoke products under its Life Sciences and Healthcare vertical. Addressing specific transportation challenges in healthcare, Emirates Vital is a specialist product designed to transport clinical trials, cell and gene therapies, and human samples, while Emirates Medical Devices enables the transport of everything from pacemakers to MRIs, following GDP specifications. Since launch, Emirates SkyCargo has uplifted almost 1,000 tonnes of highly sensitive cargo, using these two products alone.

Emirates Delivers expanded operations to Kuwait, providing door-to-door international delivery of items purchased from the UK and the US to savvy e-commerce shoppers. Recognising the opportunity in the wider Middle East region which has previously been underserved when it comes to e-commerce shipments, Emirates Delivers is preparing to significantly scale in 2024, offering fast, reliable, and cost-effective delivery solutions.

Advancing digitalisation strategy

Throughout 2023, Emirates SkyCargo helped shape the digital landscape for cargo operations. In addition to its own online booking platform on e-SkyCargo, the airline’s capacity is now available on two of the biggest digital marketplaces, CargoAi and WebCargo with plans to further expand its digital footprint in early 2024. In October, Emirates SkyCargo launched a landmark host-to-host connection with global freight forwarder, Kuehne+Nagel, providing direct access to its market-leading products and services on Kuehne+Nagel’s internal booking engine.

New brand umbrella

Reflecting Emirates SkyCargo’s wider contribution to global trade, the airline launched a new campaign showing how ‘The World Works Better with Emirates SkyCargo’. Disrupting the traditional USP-focused advertising of the cargo industry, The World Works Better has become the mantra by which Emirates SkyCargo operates, providing tangible impact to people and businesses all over the world.

Extending a lifeline to global communities

Committed to driving positive impact in the communities it serves around the world, Emirates SkyCargo is no stranger to humanitarian missions. Following the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria in February, Emirates SkyCargo, in collaboration with the International Humanitarian City (IHC) swiftly established an airbridge to Istanbul. Dedicating cargo space on its daily flight to Istanbul across a two-week period Emirates SkyCargo and IHC ensured a steady flow of emergency supplies to on-ground NGOs.

More conscious operations

Emirates SkyCargo continues to focus on meaningful initiatives that drive impact, both in its own operations and across the industry. From on-ground programmes that ensure 75% of all plastic sheeting in the airline’s Dubai-based facilities is recycled through to optimizing the way aircraft is loaded, more environmental and sustainably conscious operations will remain a priority for Emirates SkyCargo through to 2024 and beyond.

In August, the Emirates Group achieved the IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) Stage One and the IEnvA Illegal Wildlife Trade module certifications, an achievement that Emirates SkyCargo contributed to significantly. Already a global leader in the prevention of illegal wildlife trafficking, the certification is an acknowledgement of the company-wide commitment to taking action.

As 2023 draws to a close, Emirates SkyCargo shows no signs of slowing down. Reflecting its confidence in the future of air logistics, and to serve its customers in a dynamic landscape, Emirates SkyCargo has laid out ambitious growth plans, including investments in digital capabilities, adding 20 new destinations to its freighter network, and doubling existing capacity over the next decade.

Dubai, UAE, 1 November, 2023 – As the air cargo industry gathers in Singapore at Air Cargo Southeast Asia, Emirates SkyCargo reflects on over 30 years of connecting to the region, developing trade flows and connecting manufacturers, traders and exporters with businesses all over the world.

“Markets in Southeast Asia were amongst the early additions to the Emirates network, back when we were a young airline, as we saw the opportunities to create reciprocal business opportunities for customers in the region with global economies. Since then, we’ve gone from strength to strength,” said Ravishankar Mirle, Vice President Cargo Commercial, Emirates SkyCargo – Far East and Australasia.

He added: “The region is currently undergoing a renaissance, as global supply chains are poised for change with manufacturers, distributors and suppliers aiming to diversify their production hubs. Asia is well positioned with Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia offering manufacturing capability and attractive investment incentives. Conferences such as Air Cargo Southeast Asia are essential for the logistics ecosystem to connect, share insight and strengthen relationships to ensure a streamlined global supply chain.”

Emirates SkyCargo first began operations to Southeast Asia on June 17, 1990 with direct flights between Dubai and three destinations: Singapore, Bangkok and Manila. Over the next three decades, the airline steadily scaled operations, increasing capacity, gateways, and frequencies to better serve local and global customers and strengthening trade lanes between East and West. Now, in 2023, Emirates SkyCargo operates 5 freighters and 176 passenger planes into 11 destinations across the region every week. With over 140 destinations on its vast global network, Emirates SkyCargo facilitates the quick and efficient transportation of goods, supporting Asian businesses export their goods to all corners of the world.

Emirates SkyCargo plays an essential role in global trade, keeping goods moving to and from key Southeast Asian markets. Often referred to as ‘the factory of the world’, Southeast Asia and the wider Asian continent is the backbone of global manufacturing for electronics and smart gadgets, fashion and textiles, machines and automobiles and pharmaceuticals. With a diversified and specialized product portfolio, Emirates SkyCargo offers tailor-made solutions that are fast, reliable, flexible and efficient.

Outside of industrial manufacturing, Southeast Asia also has a thriving agricultural industry, with fresh fruit and vegetable, seafood and other perishable items comprising one of the region’s biggest exports. Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam are the top providers of fresh produce across Southeast Asia with in-demand tropical fruit such as mangoes, bananas, coconuts and pineapples transported from farm to grocery stores around the world in as little as 24 – 48 hours.

Reflecting its confidence in the future of air logistics, and to serve its customers in a dynamic landscape, Emirates SkyCargo has laid out ambitious growth plans, including investments in digital capabilities, adding 20 new destinations to its freighter network, and doubling existing capacity over the next decade.

Throughout Air Cargo Southeast Asia, Emirates SkyCargo stands ready to engage in essential discussions and knowledge-share with other industry leaders to help shape the regional landscape and best support the globe’s evolving supply chain. Emirates SkyCargo will be at Air Cargo Southeast Asia from November 1 – 3, at stand number C01.

Dubai, UAE, 29 August, 2023 – Emirates SkyCargo is now live on CargoAi’s marketplace solution, CargoMART, further advancing its digital customer experience and optimizing the booking process with real-time information. The partnership launched in the Netherlands, Spain and France, and will open up to customers in select countries across Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Far East and Australasia in the coming months.  

Through the CargoMART solution, customers will be able to access Emirates SkyCargo schedules, tariff and contract rates, along with real-time access to available capacity, enabling immediate bookings 24/7. On the backend, the partnership drives greater efficiency and accuracy. Once the system is fully operational, over 10,000 freight forwarders on CargoAi’s database will have access.

Nabil Sultan, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo, said: “As we increase our digital connectivity, we are able to offer more choice for our customers to connect with Emirates SkyCargo’s market-leading capabilities and extensive global network. CargoAi’s digital touchpoint enables both our existing and new customers from across the world to book with Emirates SkyCargo at their convenience, providing an additional channel that further strengthens our world class customer experience.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Emirates SkyCargo to enhance their digital customer experience through our marketplace solution, CargoMART. By providing real-time pricing and capacity information, we empower our mutual customers with greater choice and convenience, enabling them to make immediate bookings 24/7,” said Matt Petot, CEO of CargoAi.  “This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to driving efficiency and accuracy in airfreight, and we look forward to further strengthening the world-class customer experience provided by Emirates SkyCargo."

Emirates SkyCargo’s five core products are listed on CargoMART, including Emirates Fresh and Emirates Fresh Breathe, an integrated and responsive cool chain designed for perishables; Emirates AOG for time-critical aircraft parts; Emirates Airfreight Priority for urgent shipments that depend on speed and reliability; and Emirates Airfreight for the quick and careful transport of general cargo.

Kuwait, Kuwait City, August 7, 2023 – Emirates Delivers, the e-commerce delivery platform of Emirates SkyCargo, has launched in Kuwait, facilitating fast, reliable, and cost-effective international delivery of items purchased from the UK and the US to shoppers in Kuwait.

Whether buying from a large e-commerce retailer or an online independent boutique, making savings during international sales like Black Friday or simply shopping from country-exclusive retail outlets, Emirates Delivers provides a seamless door-to-door transport solution with competitive shipping rates to bring customers the best e-commerce purchases from the UK and the US in just 3 to 5 working days.

Nabil Sultan, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo, said: “Building on the success that Emirates Delivers has established in the UAE, we are excited to achieve the next step in our broader e-commerce strategy by expanding to Kuwait. While the global e-commerce market continues to flourish, recent years have shown a clear uptick in markets which were not previously offered the same access and options, such as Kuwait and the wider Middle East. Now, more customers are searching for a reliable and trusted partner, not just to make the initial purchase from, but to handle the transportation of purchases. Leveraging Emirates’ global network, the frequency of flights, our wide body capacity, and the trust and longstanding relationships we’ve built with consumers in market, Emirates Delivers is well placed to answer this need.”

To utilize Emirates Delivers, customers first have to register free of charge on www.emiratesdelivers.com, where they will be given a unique shipping address in both the UK and the US. This allows users to immediately start shopping online from their favourite brands, using the unique address during check-out.

When the items arrive at the Emirates Delivers UK or US facility, specialist agents will review all purchases to ensure they arrived undamaged and take photos of the items, before repacking to ensure proper wrapping and protection for international delivery. With free storage of up to 30 days, Emirates Delivers allows customers to combine items from different retailers and vendors and consolidate their purchases into one package to further reduce the already-competitive shipping costs.

Using the “My Suite” option on the Emirates Delivers website, customers can then confirm shipping to Kuwait, with full tracking visibility from the time the items are received at the facility, through to delivery of the package at their door. Emirates Delivers takes care of all the hassle of shipping and customs clearance, making cross-border shopping simple. It offers the unique feature of providing all costs upfront, with no hidden or surprise costs.

Once the item has arrived in Kuwait, Emirates Delivers will complete all customs clearance activities and deliver the parcel directly to the customer. Harnessing the power of Emirates’ extensive global network which operates over 120 weekly flights to the UK and 96 weekly flights to the US, packages will be delivered in 3 to 5 working days.

Emirates Delivers first launched in 2019, bringing the best of US shopping to the UAE, before adding the UK to the service in 2022. Unlocking a world of international shopping, Emirates Delivers has been used by thousands of shoppers to transport apparel, cosmetics, toys and games, books, footwear, and accessories as well as vitamins and health supplements.

As it warms up in the Northern Hemisphere, Emirates SkyCargo is scaling up its cool chain capacity for perishables, preparing for a busy summer season of weddings and outdoor events. As the demand for decorative floral arrangements increases, May 2023 saw Emirates SkyCargo transport 3,590 tonnes of time- and temperature-sensitive fresh cut flowers, a 20% rise from the same period last year.

Ecuador and Kenya are the top two export origin locations; Ecuador in particular has experienced a steady rise in flower trade in recent years, increasing its exports with Emirates SkyCargo by 21% in May this year, compared to 2022. The Netherlands, a country that plays a major role in the world’s flower trade, remains in both the top three export origins and import locations. Other key import locations for this commodity include the UAE and Australia, with Saudi Arabia rounding out the top four.

Dennis Lister, Senior Vice President – Product and Innovation, Emirates SkyCargo, said, "We are seeing an increased demand for fresh flowers as the wedding season in the Northern Hemisphere reaches its peak, and a corresponding spike in demand for logistics capabilities to protect perishables. Leveraging our industry-leading temperature-controlled technology, facilities, equipment and expert personnel, Emirates Fresh continues to offer our global customers reliable freshness, whether it’s beautiful blooms for that special day or fresh produce for the garden barbeque. With 500 to 600 tonnes of perishables transported on Emirates SkyCargo flights every day, we are proud to be the partner of choice that connects the global agriculture community with their customers all over the world.”

22,500 tonnes of perishable commodities every month
Perishables are the carrier’s largest business by tonnage carried, uplifting an average of 22,500 tonnes of perishable commodities every month. Ranging from freshly picked mangoes from Pakistan, to salmon from Norway and brilliant blooms from Kenya, Emirates SkyCargo transports goods rapidly and efficiently across its global network of over 140 destinations.

Fresh cut flowers dominate as the leading perishable category transported by SkyCargo with chilled meat and fresh fruits rounding out the top three perishable product categories, as air cargo enables temperate-safe and rapid transit from farm to shop in as little as 24-48 hours.

Door-to-door cool chain delivered at scale via Dubai
As temperatures rise and summer produce is harvested, cool chain logistics play an essential role in keeping high-demand perishable produce fresh and high quality for consumers worldwide.

Emirates' dedicated cool-chain handling capabilities have been developed with a focus on fast connection times and high-quality transfers. Its dual airport hub in Dubai is world’s largest and most technologically advanced cargo handling facility, offering a three-hour, air-to-air transfer service. Handling over 8,000 shipments per day, the facility has over 15,000m² of dedicated storage for temperature-sensitive goods, including perishables.

Uniquely positioned between east and west, approximately 1/3 of the world’s population can be served from Dubai within a 4-hour flight range. Emirates’ vast network of destinations, meanwhile, also give customers the choice of multiple flights per day to many locations across both freighter and passenger aircraft belly-hold capacity.

Emirates Fresh, SkyCargo’s perishable-oriented service offers three different options for customers to choose the appropriate level of temperature protection for their cargo. This ranges from produce with a higher tolerance for temperature fluctuations, to high-end perishables that require active cool dollies for ramp protection. Customers can track and trace their shipments and view temperature monitoring data online at every step, as well as make short-notice direct bookings, thanks to SkyCargo’s ecommerce platform.