Emirates Boosts Cargo Capacity

280912N.Boeing-Airline-787.jpg - 280912N.Boeing-Airline-787.jpg

Boeing 777F aircraft

SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates, one of the world’s fastest growing international airlines, has significantly boosted its total cargo capacity and expanded its dedicated freighter network with the addition of three new Boeing 777F aircraft.

The three new freighters, each capable of carrying up to 103 tonnes of cargo, takes SkyCargo’s freighter fleet to 10 aircraft and its dedicated freighter network to 12 destinations. These are Taipei, Chittagong, Eldoret, Lilongwe, Kabul, Almaty, Gothenburg, Zaragoza, Viracopos, Tripoli, Djibouti and Liege. A fourth new Boeing 777 freighter will join the fleet in March this year.

“As one of the largest air cargo carriers in the world, we continue to invest in our fleet and expand our route network, enabling us to provide our customers with even greater flexibility, increased frequencies, additional capacity to handle larger cargo volumes and charter flights,” said Ram Menen, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President Cargo.

“Our dedicated freighter fleet, coupled with our cargo capacity on our passenger fleet of 185 wide-bodied aircraft that flies to 128 destinations in 74 countries, gives us extensive global reach and connectivity to the trade routes of the world”.

In 2012, Emirates introduced services to Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Dublin, Dallas, Lusaka, Harare, Seattle, Ho Chi Minh City, Barcelona, Lisbon, Washington DC, Adelaide, Lyon and Phuket, while Warsaw will join the route network on February 6 and Algiers on March 1 this year.

The Boeing 777F aircraft is the most modern, technologically advanced freighter available and has the lowest fuel burn of any comparable-sized cargo aircraft. The main cargo deck is the widest of any freighter aircraft at 3.7 metres, which enables it to uplift outsized cargo and carry larger consignments.

Emirates SkyCargo is the freight division of Emirates. Reflecting Emirates’ overall policy of excellence in every area of operation, Emirates SkyCargo’s investment in highly-qualified staff, the very latest information technology, the most efficient aircraft and the finest ground handling facilities, has made it a significant force in the global air cargo industry.

In the 2011-12 financial year, Emirates SkyCargo carried 1.79 million tonnes of cargo across its network, contributing 16.2 per cent – $2.6 billion – of the airline’s total transport revenue. Based out of Dubai International Airport, its $327million 43,600 square metre Cargo Mega Terminal is designed to handle 1.2 million tonnes of cargo a year.

Nigeria, being a major trade destination in Africa is also a key market for Emirates Cargo.