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Emirates SkyCargo

Emirates SkyCargo Overview

Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo division of Emirates Airlines, is based in Dubai, UAE and operates as a subsidiary of The Emirates Group.

Wholly owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai, it ranks as the fourth-largest cargo airline globally by freight tonne-kilometres, according to 2020 figures.

Established in 1985, its primary hub is Al Maktoum International Airport.

To service a wide network, it combines a fleet of 11 specially designed freighters with belly hold capacity with Emirates’ passenger fleet. At the moment, the airline provides passenger flights to more than 140 locations globally and cargo flights to 26 destinations.

A pioneer in logistics innovation, Emirates SkyCargo operates two state-of-the-art cargo terminals with an annual combined capacity of 2.3 million tonnes.

These facilities include the world’s largest EU GDP-certified pharmaceutical hub, ensuring efficient and reliable transport of sensitive goods. Emirates SkyCargo’s central location enables it to serve two-thirds of the global population within eight hours, handling over 8,000 shipments a day.

It also transports between 500 and 600 tonnes of perishables every day — a total of 22,500 tonnes every month.

Emirates SkyCargo plans to double capacity and expand its freighter network over the next decade.

Emirates SkyCargo News

Cargo is loaded onto an aeroplane. The Middle East-Europe route accounts for 5% of global traffic

Middle East-Europe is ‘fastest-growing route for air cargo’

The Middle East-Europe route for air cargo was the fastest growing in the world in October, according to International Air Transport Association figures.  Annual growth in cargo tonne-kilometres stood at 15.3 percent in October, IATA said. The global average is 9.8 percent and the Middle East average is 4.5 percent. The Middle East-Europe route has […]

An Emirates SkyCargo plane being loaded. The airline reported 11% growth in H1 2023 – before the Red Sea disruption

Emirates reports record half-year pre-tax profit

Emirates airline recorded a post-tax profit of $2.4 billion (AED8.7 billion) for the first half of the year, down 7 percent compared to the same period last year.  This year marks the first time state-owned Emirates has had to pay UAE corporate income tax.  When compared to the previous year before tax, the airline reported […]

Emirates freighters

More freighters on order at Emirates

Emirates, Dubai’s flagship airline, has ordered more freighters in a push to expand its cargo operations, reports in local and international media said.  The airline has ordered five Boeing 777 freighters, which are due to be delivered from 2025/2026 and brings the total number of 777 freighters on order to 14. “Demand for Emirates’ air […]

Emirates SkyCargo reported carrying 2.2m tonnes of cargo, an 18% year-on-year increase

Air cargo between Middle East and Europe up by 30%

Middle Eastern carriers reported a year-on-year increase in demand for air cargo of more than 9 percent in April, industry figures said.  Air cargo between the region and Europe experienced the strongest rise with a 30 percent lift on the same time last year. Asia grew by over 10 percent, according to the latest data […]

Emirates Nigeria

Emirates to resume Nigeria service from October

Emirates will restart services to Nigeria from October 1, after suspending flights on the route for almost two years. The Dubai airline will operate a daily service to  Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city.  “We are excited to resume our services to Nigeria,” said Adnan Kazim, deputy president and chief commercial officer, Emirates.  “We thank the Nigerian government for their partnership and support in re-establishing this […]

Emirates chief executive Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum said he was 'confident in our resilience and ability to respond quickly' to challenges such as the recent flooding in Dubai

Dubai to receive $1bn dividend after record Emirates profits

Emirates Group will pay more than $1 billion in dividends to its owner, the Investment Corporation of Dubai sovereign wealth fund, after it announced record profits of just over $5 billion for the year. The holding group includes Dubai-based flag carrier Emirates and aircraft and airport services company Dnata. It repaid $596 million from the […]

Emirates SkyCargo India

Emirates SkyCargo plans service expansion in India

Emirates SkyCargo plans to add three new destinations in India by June, an Indian business news daily has reported. “We are looking forward to operating scheduled freighter flights to three additional cities in India,” Nabil Sultan, divisional senior vice-president at the Dubai-based company, told The Hindu Business Line. The three destinations were not disclosed. Emirates […]

An Emirates SkyCargo plane being loaded. The airline reported 11% growth in H1 2023 – before the Red Sea disruption

Air cargo demand rises after Red Sea shipping disruption

Middle East airlines posted an 18.3 percent annual increase in air cargo demand in December, in line with strong global growth attributed to Red Sea disruption.  Global demand for air cargo was up 10.8 percent compared with December 2022 – the strongest performance in two years, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).  The […]

Damien O’Connor, New Zealand’s minister of trade and export growth and Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the UAE’s minister of state for foreign trade

UAE and New Zealand plan Cepa to build non-oil trade

When Auckland-based startup Exsurgo joined the Hub71 technology park in Abu Dhabi it was a potential sign of things to come in the UAE-New Zealand trade relationship. Exsurgo has raised $10.5 million and aims to provide non-pharmaceutical treatments for neurological conditions through the use of neuroscience and data analytics. Last week, two months after Exsurgo’s […]

dnata flowers Schipol

Getting married? Your flowers probably flew Emirates

With the global wedding season in full bloom and demand for fresh-cut flowers blossoming, Emirates’ advanced logistics capabilities and strategic location are helping it capitalise on this market. The Dubai airline’s commercial freight division Emirates SkyCargo transported 3,590 tonnes of time- and temperature-sensitive fresh-cut flowers in May this year alone – a 20 percent year-on-year […]